Surin Islands bleached corals nearly fully recovered

An estimated 90% of the corals damaged by bleaching at the popular Mu Ko Surin National Park, north of Phuket, have recovered, reports national park officials.

The corals in the park suffered heavy damage from bleaching in 2010, and suffered another spate of bleaching in May this year, Prarop Plang Ngan, Chief Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2, told The Phuket News.

“In 2010, El Nino saw sea temperatures in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea rise by 2-3ºC, which resulted in coal bleaching across about 80 square kilometres,” Mr Prarop said.

“Plus our staff went out to to inspect the damage done after more coral bleaching conditions in the park in May 2019,” he said.

However, a recent assessment of coral restoration efforts by park officers from the Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2 along with Phuket Rajabhat University Faculty of Science and Technology lecturer Dr Thanongsak Chanmethakul had confirmed that an estimated 90% of the damaged corals have recovered, Mr Prarop told The Phuket News.

“We went to inspect the areas around Stork Island, Ao Jak, Ao Mae Yai, Ao Chong Khad, Hin Pae, Ao Tao, Ao Pak Kad, Torinla Island on July 26-27,” he said.

Read the full report on The Phuket News Website