Yes it can – we’re seeing recovery of marine life on the Similans
I’ve seen some amazing things this season, and I thought I’d share some of them with you. I’ve been privileged to do several live-aboard trips to the Similans and Richelieu Rock with Big Blue Khao Lak on their beautiful boat Hallelujah.
They have a lovely varied trip, with some easy and some challenging dives. It includes some gently sloping reefs, and some ‘structural’ dive-sites with big boulders and swim-throughs.
It’s still early in the season, so I wouldn’t really expect to see any of ‘the big stuff’. Mantas and Whalesharks usually arrive after Christmas. However I have been really surprised by how much more marine life we are seeing this year.
What’s changed?
Almost a year ago the EU issued Thailand with a Yellow Card for failing to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing by Thai fishing boats. They gave them a year to get their house in order, or the EU market would be closed to Thai sea-food products.
The EU is a big market for Thailand and so the government has started to take some action. The Thai navy has been out patrolling, and many of the fishing vessels have remained in port because they have incorrect paperwork or incorrect nets.
From what we see, there is still a long way to go, and there are still illegal fishing practices going on in plain sight, but despite the corruption and lack of resources, what they are achieving is pretty amazing.
The marine life is starting to recover!
In the last month I’ve seen
- Mantas
- Black-tip Sharks
- White-tip Sharks
- Leopard Shark
- Tuna
- a huge increase in the number of Glass Fish (which are breakfast, lunch and dinner to the smaller predators such as Mackerel and Trevally)
- schools of Barracuda
- several mated pairs of Cuttlefish
- lots of Octopus
- big schools of Snapper and Emperor fish
- and – finally – several seahorses.
The sheer number of fish this year compared to the previous 4 years is quite significant, and we are delighted!
If you would like to come and see for yourself, or if you would like further information on diving in the Similan National Park, then please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
