More artificial reefs to be planted in Thailand

BANGKOK, April 26 (TNA) -- Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) joined forces with the private sector to increase the number of artificial reefs in the ocean, aiming to help revive coastal ecological system. Director of the Office of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation (OMCRC) under the MDCR Niphon Pongsuwan, together with the General Manager of the Regional Office of Nakhon Luang Concrete Co, Ltd, a subsidiary of the Nakhon Luang Cement Public Co, Ltd, Narong Phannorat inked a cooperation agreement on a project which targeted to help revive the coastal ecological system and marine life in honour of HM King Bhumibol Adulydej's 89th birthday anniversary on December 5, 2016. The project is set to be carried out for the next three years. Mr Niphon said the DMCR has been trying to conserve and revive marine and coastal resources in all 23 seaside provinces in Thailand, by already encouraging the public, community, as well as state and private organisations, and concerned local agencies to help with the revitalisation. Currently, artificial reefs have been planted in 82 locations in 15 provinces. For this year, the DMCR has planed to move forward with its plans to create and plant more artificial reefs in other areas with the objective to protect the ecological system and reduce the impact on diving sessions for tourists. The plan also aimed to revive the coastal ecological system and help reduce government's spending, while planning to plant cement blocks in over 300 locations within a year to create more artificial reefs. Mr Narong on the other hand said his company would assist the project by helping to provide concrete blocks to create the habitat for artificial reefs and revive the natural marine resouces, which the company believes would, in turn, help to create more income for the local communities. (TNA)