Asst Prof Thon blamed tourism and polluted water released by beachfront hotels, resorts and residential houses as the main cause for the unhealthy coral reefs. The marine ecologist also voiced his concern over the 77% damage to the country's coral reefs, which in his view is a considerable figure. Meanwhile, Petch Manopawitr, a scientist of the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN, pointed out to plastic waste as a cause for coral diseases. The research was conducted on coral reefs on 159 locations in Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Australia. In related development, Worapot Lomlim, chief of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park, said on Saturday the authorities would inspect coral reefs around Koh Bida Nok in Krabi today.

Source: Bangkok Post January 28, 2018 22:07 UTC