Great Success for Go Eco Phuket!

Last Sunday, 30th September, 14 dive boats with more than 500 volunteers turned out to clean the reefs of Koh Racha Noi and Yai, Koh Khao Nok and Koh Hei in Go Eco Phuket's "Dive for Debris" initiative. They managed to collect an amazing 15 tons of debris including a 4.5 discarded fishing net, which even a local fishing boat helped to haul in. This was a united effort from local dive operators, local resorts and tourism dependent businesses, government agencies and the Royal Thai Navy.

Tony Andrews, PADI Regional Manager and Project AWARE Ambassador, said “It’s a record. Obviously we are very pleased with the event." He explained that the debris would be sorted into categories, such as fishing nets, plastics and so on, so it can be accurately documented.

The long-term goal of the event is to mobilize divers from around to the world to return the reefs to a clean, healthy state.

“We had a strong dream of making the reefs of Phuket and the surrounding islands clean, pristine and sustainable, and making sure they belong in the top diving destinations in Thailand and the world,” Mr Andrews said.

Vice Admiral Taratorn Kajitsuwan, Commander of the Navy Third Area Command at their base at Cape Panwa, pointed out that when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra previously visited Phuket, she had made it clear that eco-tourism was a must for the island.

“One of my priorities is to help [support eco-tourism efforts], and this project goes hand in hand with PM Yingluck’s vision of improving tourism and our country,” he said.

“Everyone is glad that Thais and foreigners have so much interest in the local environment,” he added.

The important thing is what happens now. The founders of Go Eco Phuket are already discussion their next project, and we will keep you posted on any upcoming event :)

The problem with marine debris

Every year, tens of thousands of marine animals and seabirds die from eating or getting tangled up in marine debris. Here’s the ugly and frightening truth surrounding our mass throwaway culture:

* Almost 90 per cent of floating marine debris is plastic.
* Over 6 million tonnes of marine litter could be entering our ocean every year.
* Research of northern fulmar seabirds found dead on beaches showed 95 per cent had plastic in their stomachs. Each bird had swallowed an average of 35 plastic pieces.
* 35 per cent of plankton-eating fish found during a study in the North Pacific Central Gyre had ingested plastic.
* Annual plastic production and use of plastics has risen from 1.5 million tonnes in 1950 to 230 million tonnes in 2009.
* Marine debris has affected more than 260 different marine species, including 86 per cent of sea turtles, 28 per cent marine mammals and 36 per cent of seabirds.
* The majority of marine wildlife deaths are due to eating marine debris.
* Animals that eat marine debris can choke if it catches in their throat. Once swallowed, plastic cannot be digested and makes the animal feel like it is full, so it stops eating and can starve to death.