YubaNet, 5 Jan 05
Tsunami Impacts on Coral Reefs in Thailand Under Investigation
By: Reef Protection International (RPI)

In addition to the horrible toll on human life caused by this week's Indian Ocean tsunami, people around the world anxiously await word on its impact to Thailand's famous coral reefs, one of the key natural features that draws so many international visitors to these tropical areas.

As aerial photos trickle in, the devastating effects of the tsunami clearly illustrate how the landscape has forever been altered by this natural disaster. In addition to ongoing relief efforts, assessments of how the powerful tsunami may have altered the fragile coral reefs of the region are currently underway.

Drew Weiner, Director of Reef Protection International (RPI) says that "reports on the condition of the coral reefs around the affected areas in Thailand are starting to trickle in, but it is not yet known the full extent of the damage to coral reefs as a result of this natural disaster. Of course the priority is to attend to the human tragedy, however, we will soon need to support efforts to clean up and rebuild local facilities and coastal waters. Many of the people impacted by the tsunami depend on the ocean for their livelihood."

Every year, thousands of visitors from around the world flock to Phuket and the surrounding area to enjoy the sun-drenched beaches and world-class scuba diving. Tourism is the lifeblood for the locals, now displaced due to the tsunami. Anupong Torranin, of Whalesharkthai, tells RPI that the tourism authority of Thailand, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, several universities, and a group of volunteer dive professionals are organizing an extensive damage survey. The survey will be carried out January 5-9 and will include the reefs around the Similan, Richelieu, Phi Phi, and several other islands in the area.

It is unknown yet how the change in ocean water quality will affect coastal marine life. Dr. Wallace J. Nichols of Blue Ocean Institute observes, "The retraction of the tsunami waves brought with them a high amount of contaminants, including raw sewage and other polluting flotsam. It is possible that much of this material will affect human and ocean health for some time. This is the next deadly wave of the tsunami and should be watched closely as restoration and rebuilding efforts are put into place." Dr. Nichols is a marine biologist and a member of the RPI Board of Advisors.

Weiner adds, "The coral reefs in the areas affected by the devastating tsunami are home to some of the most famous dive sites in the world. RPI will continue to investigate the status of the reefs impacted by this disaster and do whatever possible to help disseminate information and facilitate restoration. The scuba diving community can help promote restoration efforts by coming to the region and supporting ocean-based tourism."

Reef Protection International (RPI), a project of Earth Island Institute, is an international marine conservation organization headquartered in San Francisco, CA. RPI educates the public about the marine aquarium trade and promotes consumer behavior that enhances coral reef conservation.

Some facts about coral reefs and the global marine aquarium trade:

• Coral reefs are some of the oldest ecosystems on Earth;
  
• An estimated 10% of the world's coral reefs have already been lost and 60% are threatened by global warming, overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and unsound coastal development practices;
  
• If current man-made pressures continue unabated, it is estimated another 30% may perish by 2050;
  
• 1,471 species of coral reef fish are traded worldwide for aquarium use, with global trade ranging between 20 and 24 million individual fish annually;
  
• The global trade in live coral has increased by more than 500% over the last 10 years, also predominantly for aquarium use, with over 1.2 million wild-harvested stony corals in trade during 2002;
• Most of these corals originate in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Indonesia emerged as the largest source of stony corals in the late 1980s and currently supplies 70-80% of the global trade in live corals.

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