Government authorities have evaluated and approved steps to combat yellow band disease in corals as well as other safeguards for marine resources.
The measures were approved during a meeting of the National Policy and Plan Committee for Marine and Coastal Resources Management Strategy. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and attended by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, as well as officials from connected agencies.
The group endorsed a proposed five-year action plan to reduce the effect of yellow band disease in corals in the Samae San Archipelago in Chonburi and Koh Tao in Surat Thani.
After the success of the first phase, the conference ordered the acceleration of the dugong conservation strategy in the second phase. This resulted in the designation of a protected area for the dugong habitat in Trang’s Palian district, as well as the formation of dugong conservation teams in 13 key places.
About coastal erosion, Gen Prawit stated that preventative measures had been done along 733.62 km of coasts out of the 822.81 km impacted, with just 89.19 km remaining.
The deputy premier stated that efforts to manage marine and coastal resources must be methodical and well-connected to all facets of sustainable development.
He also stated that anything that can be done to solve current concerns should be brought to the committee for quick deliberation and implementation, while pushing officials to interact with locals and urge them to participate in the preventative plan.
