Cyanide and blast fishing meet population explosion

To help save the reefs of Thailand, get active with these groups:

Siam Environment Club

Sichang Marine Science Research and Training Station

Pollution from Bangkok and Pattaya have almost completely destroyed the northern Gulf of Thailand reefs, pushing the fishing industry here toward collapse. Reefs are somewhat healthier on the Gulf's west coast and in the Andaman Sea, but reefs off Phuket are stressed by overfishing, tourist abuse, and sewage. South of Pattaya, though, the reefs around Sattaheep are in excellent shape because they are off-limits to everyone but the Thai navy, which vigorously patrols the area for a turtle conservation program.

In February 1998, Thailand's National Environment Board rejected a Malaysian cruise line's plan to build a passenger pier in Phuket, citing an environmental assessment that showed several problems with the project. Locals and environmentalists argued successfully that the pier would damage the world's longest-lived reefs.