Active Planet: Thailand locks down dive sites to protect coral

Coral, a "living stone," is far more sensitive to water temperature than is generally realised.

The same El Nino conditions that have warmed the ocean north of Australia, resulting in the monsoon-style conditions that are now regarded as the worst in more than a century, have also warmed the seas around Thailand.

That has resulted in the coral beginning to suffer adverse effects, the most obvious symptom of which is losing its colour in what is termed "bleaching."

The symptom was first noticed in April last year but it has been steadily worsening as the temperatures have risen. Now it is said to have become the worst for 20 years. Indeed, a government survey has revealed that as much as 90% of the coral on both sides of the country has been bleached.

As a result, and despite the obvious impact on tourism, the Thai authorities have concluded that the must protect the coral as best they can. While they cannot cool the sea, they can at least reduce the disturbance to the coral.

So 18 dive sites in seven National Parks are to be closed and some other areas subjected to restrictions on the number of visitors.

The closures are expected to be until at least the end of this year's monsoon season. This is scheduled for the end of October but recently unpredictable weather patterns across South East Asia have seen monsoon-style rains out of season as well as the season shifting from year to year.

The parks affected are:

Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang, Mu Koh Petra and Tarutao national parks in Satun, Mu Koh Chumphon National Park in Chumphon, Hat Nopparat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park in Krabi, and Mu Koh Surin and Mu Koh Similan national parks in Phangnga.