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Thai Coral Reefs Suffers Severely Following Myanmar Cargo Ship's Grounding Catastrophe

Catastrophic Coral Damage: Over 150 square metres of coral, featuring approximately 80% blue coral, recorded destroyed after a four-day grounding incident in Mu Ko Surin National Park.

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National Park Suffers Significant Coral Damage: Over 150 Square Metres of Coral, Including 80% of...
National Park Suffers Significant Coral Damage: Over 150 Square Metres of Coral, Including 80% of Rare Blue Coral, Destroyed After Four Days of Grounding Incident

Sinkin' Ship Wrecks Over 150 Square Meters of Precious Coral at Mu Ko Surin National Park

Thai Coral Reefs Suffers Severely Following Myanmar Cargo Ship's Grounding Catastrophe

In a nightmare for marine life enthusiasts, a Myanmar cargo vessel mindlessly crashed into Ao Jak (Jak Bay) and remained grounded for four days, causing severe damage to the delicate marine ecosystem at Mu Ko Surin National Park.

Our mates at the park, Kriengkrai Pohchareon, the park's big cheese, swiftly reported the F-bomb that is the environmental disaster to the higher-ups, including Therdthai Khwanthong, Protected Area Regional Office 5's boss, and Jaran Duangpan, the main man at the National Parks Division.

This grim news was backed up by a detailed underwater surveying session conducted by park divers, shedding light on the full extent of the devastation.

Initial investigations revealed that the vessel had smashed into the reef in a path around 75 meters long, from the point of first contact to where it solidified itself. The tall corals, those not cleared by the ship's hull, took the most beating, fractured and shattered, while the short ones, like the Short-Grooved Brain Coral and Cauliflower Coral, got off relatively unscathed.

However, the darkest days were between the 45-meter and 75-meter marks, where the ship had sunk deepest. This part of the coral heaven was almost entirely destroyed, with corals directly beneath the vessel's hull reduced to stubborn bricks of what once was.

Here's the breakdown of the carnage:

  • Blue Coral (Heliopora coerulea): This precious beauty suffered the most catastrophic impact, accounting for a whopping 80% of all corals destroyed by the collision.
  • Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp.): About 15% of the affected corals.
  • Boulder Coral (Porites lutea): Accounted for 5% of the damaged corals.
  • Short-Grooved Brain Coral (Platygyra daedalea): Sustained minor damage, with four colonies fractured.
  • Cauliflower Coral (Pocillopora): Also took a hit, but only three colonies were fractured.
  • Star Coral (Leptastrea purpurea): A relatively lucky dude, with just one colony fractured.

Beyond the blatant destruction of the reefs, there's also concern about marine debris. The Myanmar vessel, being a cargo boat, left behind a heap of trash, including cardboard, textile scraps, truck tires, hoses, and other waste entangled within the coral formations.

Our pals at the park are already gearing up to confront the mess, convening meetings with relevant agencies to discuss immediate and long-term management strategies. They're coordinating with the Phuket Marine Department, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Region 3), and private sector networks to secure oil booms, just in case there's a fuel leak.

Additionally, they've requested emergency support, including the naval vessel "HTMS Punyee" and its equipment from the Third Naval Area Command, for large-scale fuel spill response. Legal proceedings are underway, with an intense probe underway to gather evidence, ID suspects, and verify the ship's documentation for entry and exit.

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  • Thailand's Coral Reefs Bounce Back After Bleaching Event
  • Thai Researchers Help Corals Cope with Global Warming Risk
  • Thailand Closes 12 National Marine Parks Amid Coral Bleaching Crisis
  • The environmental damage caused by the sinking ship at Mu Ko Surin National Park is a call to action for business and tourism sectors to consider their impact on the environment, particularly in areas rich in marine life.
  • The incident underscores the importance of environmental science in understanding and mitigating the effects of human activities on fragile ecosystems like coral reefs, as well as the role of legislation and enforcement in preventing such disasters.
  • Health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and climate-change initiatives could benefit from promoting eco-tourism and sustainable practices, encouraging travelers to respect nature and support conservation efforts when visiting coral reefs and other vulnerable environments.
  • As the investigation into the Myanmar vessel's actions progresses, it is crucial for the authorities to ensure stricter regulations for shipping traffic in protected marine areas, to prevent similar disasters from happening in the future.

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