Owing to the high trade in aquatic animals for aquariums, the ecological system is losing its balance, causing a rapid increase in the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish, which have damaged a large area of coral reef in Phuket.
Over 500 Crown-of-Thorns Starfish were found and collected from coral reef in the areas of Phuket’s Koh Hey and Koh Aew. According to an official survey, this aquatic animal eats coral tissue, which causes the death of the coral.
Official statistics from The Phuket Marine Biological Centre or PMBC indicated the maximum number of 10 Crown-of-Thorns Starfish within an area of 6 Rai, or 2.4 acres, was normal. But if it was higher than specified, that area was considered to have a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish outbreak.
The reason for the high growth in Crown-of-Thorns Starfish is a great deal of its natural enemies, namely Parrotfish, Triggerfish and Triton’s Trumpets, are caught for aquarium trade. Chemical fertiliser for agricultural use is always rinsed off into the sea, causing plankton, the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish’s food, to grow faster and become fertile for the Starfish’s wellbeing and survival ratio.
"There’re now too many Crown-of-Thorns Starfish in the ocean, which causes damage to coral reefs in a large and spacious area," said Niphon Phongsuwan, a coral reef biologist at Phuket Marine Biological Centre.
Although diving down into the ocean to collect Crown-of-Thorns Starfish to get rid of them on shore, is a way to reduce this animal and return balance to the ecological system, a proper fishing technique or a conservation area is needed to preserve and protect marine and coastal resources.
"We suggest scuba divers, tourists or fishermen not to catch aquatic animals around coral reef areas, as certain kinds of fish can eat crown-of-thorns starfish, and thus save the coral reef from one of its most notorious pests, " said Wannakiat Thubthimsang, Phuket Marine Biological Centre director.
To save the aquatic ecological system, all parties need to cooperate; otherwise, it will prove hard for the ecology to revive itself, especially when human-beings’ selfishness and lack of responsibilities continue unabated.
Features : Last Update : 08:30:16 18 February 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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