Thailand closes several dive sites in response to coral bleaching

In this case the El Nino phenomenon has absolutely nothing to do with pollution in the hotel industry or with overfishing. Let's not make amalgamation, which would also be demago… This is a situation similar to the one that destroyed most of the corals in the Maldives in 1998.

The polyps are sick but not necessarily dead, at this stage, the only hope of seeing them recover is that the temperature of the water comes down again and that they are neither touched, nor broken nor especially a unfortunate palm stroke spreads a cloud of sand.

I think the closure is a good measure, which was also taken this summer by Malaysia in certain areas of the Perhentians and Tioman.

While this obviously pleases much less in Thai centers, it will also allow some very over-submerged areas of the Similans to breathe a little: when I see that East of Eden is closed while for me it was the pearl of the Similans with its impressive potatoes of life and colors, it hurts quite a bit. I wish them a speedy recovery.

“… Which was not the case in the past, when this human activity was marginal.”

I do not believe there is any observation that can confirm this observation, Alfred Wallace must have observed the coral bleaching in his time.

In addition, this is not the first time that this phenomenon has been observed in a closer time with regrowth (example of the Maldives in 98).

“I really ask myself whether it is really this kind of measure that puts the reef back on its feet, and if it would not be rather a roundabout way of hiding the most affected areas, which constitute a nice “anti-advertising” for this country which lives a lot from tourism? ”

It is to make a lawsuit of intention in Thailand, which if it had really wanted to hide the phenomenon would have continued to plunge as if nothing had happened (example of Sri Lanka on the coral gardens of Hikkaduwa long destroyed but who still claim they are in perfect shape.). On the contrary, the Thais take note of this bleaching, declare it and take measures to better protect the coral, this BEGINNING TOURIST SEASON.

Again, the Malays did the same earlier in the year on the Perhentians and Tioman. it was a wise and courageous decision, approved by all actors, scientists and commercial alike. 

As for the connection with human or hotel pollution, in the case of the Similans, it is once again completely out of the question, except if we except ... the diving cruise ships ... knowing There is NO accommodation on the Similans which are more than 2 hours from the coast.