Residents of Ao Gung community in the tourist island of Phuket and conservationist groups have expressed serious concern that construction of a new marina for yachts which is located just a stone’s throw away from the Ao Gung bay will threaten coral reefs in the area as well as their livelihood.
The coral reefs in Ao Gung, located in Tambo Pa Klork, were first photographed by a local fisherman, Mr Ood Sompit, who then posted the images in the social media, resulting in widespread interest from environmentalists and agencies concerned and, eventually, an investigation into the marina project.
The 120-million-baht project is located only two kilometres from Ao Gung bay and, once completed, will have the capacity to accommodate up to 72 yachts.
Mr Pichit Pankham, a member of Ao Gung mangrove forest conservation group, pointed out that the sea in Ao Gung is shallow and a source of food for marine lives and is home to coral reefs whereas the shoreline is covered by about 3,000 rai of mangrove forest.
He said the western coast of Phuket which covers Patong, Kata and Karon beaches, are ideal as a tourism hub but the eastern coast which faces the mainland is relatively quiet and rich with marine resources.
He said it would be a bad mistake if coral reefs and mangrove forest were to be sacrificed to pay way for the construction of a marina. He suggested the project owner to change the marina project into a luxury housing project so that people living there could enjoy the aesthetic beauty of the bay.
Community residents admitted that they had little access to information about the marina project until in October last year when a public hearing was held.
They said they found the information from the project owner flawed as it claimed that there were no coral reefs within 1-km radius of Ao Gung bay. Also, they noted that the mangrove forest was being threatened by encroachers suspected of trying to destroy the forest to justify the construction of the marina project.
A recent survey of the sea in Ao Gung by officials from the natural resources and environment ministry shows coral reefs cover an area of about 547 rai with 62 rai being rated as in perfect condition and 12 rai of carolline algae.
To protect the coral reefs, community residents joined officials from natural resources and environment ministry to demarcate the sea in Ao Gung.
