The seminar on coral reefs conservation and restoration
The seminar on coral reefs conservation and restoration is the knowledgeably way to create
collaboration among environment- friendly dive businesses by The GREEN FINS project. The seminar was held on June 17, 2013 at Pru Nai municipality office, Koh Yao, Phang Nga. According to the uneducated and oblivious exploitation of abundant natural resources by tourism entrepreneurs, boat trip businesses and fishermen around Koh Kai, a hidden gem, despite its small size, Koh Kai is on the top rank of beautiful and famous islands surrounded by shallow coral reefs and offering skin diving practice which many tourists leapt at the opportunity to go there.
This seminar contributes to educate every tourism entrepreneur, boat trip business and tourist about the marine ecosystem and also encourage and promote the reduction of human induced damage to coral reefs and to educate the proper and safe skin diving practices.
Last May, Mr. Thanes Mannoi, Director of Marine and Coastal Resources for Conservation Center 5(Phuket), department of Marine and Costal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and officers had been at Koh Kai Nai, Pru Nai, Koh Yao, Phang Nga for the purpose of investigating an unauthorized undersea tourist attraction, "sea-walker" tours having been complained illegally operating in Plant and Marine Protected Area.
Furthermore, there also have more evidences concerning unknowledgeable exploitation of natural resources disclosed. Among other things, illegal dumping of waste into the ocean which is an environmental crime is one of them. Another devastating event is the blue coral reefs destruction by the seawalking companies. Over 300 square meters of corals had been destroyed for the purposes of refurbishing the area, building walkway for the seawalking tourist by putting the metal bars and seawalker equipment along the walkway. The investigating teams of Marine and Coastal Resources for Conservation Center 5 (Phuket) had been dispatched to inspect and clear the site. The metal bars had been removed and the mooring buoy system had been applied to meet the needs, these are, preventing further coral reefs damage and enabling the coral restoration to affordably ad effectively achieve by the volunteer divers and academics.
