Thai sea conservation campaign to be soon launched

BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA) - Thailand will, later this month, launch an annual voluntary campaign, aimed to conserve the Thai sea, with this year's activity intended to be part of nationwide celebrations of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's 60th birthday anniversary on April 2. Privy Councilor Surayud Chulanont told journalists that under the 2015 campaign, its co-organizers, including the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resorces and Environment, the Royal Thai Navy, the Royal Thai Air Force and Phang-nga Province in the Thai South, are inviting volunteers to dive off Koh Miang Island in the provincial Mu Koh Similan National Park from March 13-15 to install 60 mooring buoys, clean coral reefs and release sea turtles. General Surayud, who is also a former Thai prime minister, said he will be among the volunteer divers and he hopes the activity should help conserve Thai marine resources and ensure sustainable tourism-related incomes for local people. The Mu Ko Similan National Park normally faces the southwestern monsoon from May to October and mooring buoys are usually damaged during the period and they, thus, need to be replaced within April before the resumption of its high tourist season. Meanwhile, Phang-nga Governor Prayoon Ratanaseni reported that his province covers an area of 4,171 square kilometers and possesses the highest number of 155 islands in Thailand. The governor also expressed his hope that the upcoming campaign should help protect Thai marine resources. (TNA)