BANGKOK, 21st May 2019 (NNT) - The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has reported several instances of coral bleaching in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand due to a higher sea temperature. The department is currently monitoring the situation closely.


Coral bleaching has been reported in several locations after a significant increase of sea temperature over the weekend, causing severe damages to the coral reef at Ko Kut island in Trat. The bleaching has been discovered in the form of spots, bands, and irregular shapes. Other conditions like pink syndrome and pigmentation response have also been reported.


Meantime, the survival rate of planted coral at Ko Ya island in Trang is reported at 70 percent and, at 83 percent at Ko Sang in Prachuap Khiri Khan after one month. Surveys of coral reefs at Ko Mat Sum and Ko Ra Yai islands, Ao Hin Khom harbour, Laem Sor cape, and Ko Samui island in Surat Thani at a depth of 2-5 meters with a water temperature of 30 degree Celsius have shown coral bleaching of 3-8 percent, and the fading of coral’s colour at 28-55 percent among the living coral population. Coral bleaching has also been spotted on star corals, bubble corals, disc corals, honeycomb corals, leaf corals, and porites.

National News Bureau Of Thailand