Continuous warming of sea water in the Gulf during the past several days has caused widespread coral bleaching with 80 percent of the coral reefs at Maprao island off Chumporn province having bleached, said Mr Tunya Netithammakul, director-general of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation.

Coral bleaching has been reported at Chumporn islands marine park, Khao Laemya-Koh Samet, Petra and Ang Thong marine parks with 50 percent coral reef bleaching at Ngam Noi and Kula islands, 10-25 bleaching at Bulone Don and Rang islands, 40 percent bleaching at Thalu and Kuti islands, 20 percent bleaching at Samsao island.

Ms Suthilak Veeravan, director-general of Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said the department had kept a close watch on coral reef bleaching phenomenon since 2011 and found 33 coral bleaching spots – 17 in the Gulf and 16 in the Andaman sea. The severity of the bleaching ranges from 10-80 percent.

She admitted that bleaching incidence was shocking with 80 percent coral reefs in the sea off Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pattani remaining in good conditions out of a total of 16 provinces where the conditions are worse with only 10 percent in good conditions in 11 provinces.

Coral reef bleaching in Gulf shocking - Thai PBS English News