Thipamas Upnoi, director of the Marine and Coastal Resources and Development Centre at the Central Gulf of Thailand said the observation operation which began late yesterday (April 19) until Friday morning found four sharks, believed to be bull sharks in the area off Khao Tao in Hua Hin.
She said the sharks are about 1-2 metres long. They were sighted swimming on the sea surface.
The operation followed the April 15 shark attack of a Norwegian tourist swimming near Hat Sai Noi. He sustained injuries to his leg and is now in safe condition.
Bannarak Sermthong, director of Marine and Coastal Resources Management Office 4, said Khao Tao is a big rock hill in the sea coast with no beach. Such location is good for sharks to live during the day when the sea temperature is high, he said.
He said the sighting of sharks in the area is the indicator of good marine environment in the area.
Mr Bannarak said authorities from several government agencies who included tourist police, civil disaster relief volunteers, district officials, jet skiers, and soldiers were deployed at Sai Noi beach for emergency response.
At least 10 signs banning tourists from swimming in the area have been erected on the beach but some tourists still didn’t listen to warning and still went swimming in the sea, he noted.
He also said shark prevention net of 300 metres wide and bouys have been erected 100 metres off Sai Noi beach at the depth of 20 metres to ensure safety for tourists swimming in the sea.
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