There was an outpouring of concern on social media on Friday (April 7) after a video taken underwater at the site was widely shared. It showed fish lying dead on the seafloor and shards of rocks and cracked coral. The reef, previously colourful and teeming with marine life, had been hailed as one of the best diving sites in the world. Sakanan Plathong, a marine biologist at Prince of Songkla University, said a diving team from the Marine National Park Operation Centre examined the damage at Richelieu Rock on Friday. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, another prominent marine biologist, noted in a Facebook post that the use of explosives and other destructive techniques to fish violates both fisheries and national park laws.

Source: The Nation Bangkok April 07, 2017 06:10 UTC