Libong Island Coral Bleaching Reaches 80% as Seawater Temperatures Soar; Fears of Crisis Similar to 2010
Coral bleaching has affected 80% of reefs around Libong Island in Trang Province as seawater temperatures soar, with tourism operators warning of a potential crisis worse than the 2010 event if conditions don't improve within weeks.
Trang — Residents and tourism operators around Libong Island in Kantang District, a renowned conservation area in Trang Province known for its abundant dugongs and seagrass beds, are increasingly concerned about coral bleaching occurring across Trang's waters due to ongoing global warming. The phenomenon has been accelerating since early May as seawater temperatures rise daily. Latest reports show bleaching affecting approximately 80% of the coral.
Jittapol Tan-anusoron, a prominent Trang tourism businessman who filmed the coral bleaching near Le Dunk Libong Resort at Haad Lang Khao beach on Libong Island after tidal waters receded, reports that the affected corals are primarily shallow-water species including rock corals, staghorn corals, and brain corals.
He predicts that if May passes without significant rainfall or temperature decrease, bleaching could expand to over 90% of the reef. "Within the next two weeks, bleaching will likely spread throughout Haad Lang Khao. Shallow corals, especially during low tide when intense sunlight and heat beat down, experience water temperatures like they're being boiled. Two years ago we had bleaching too, but nature recovered quickly in 4-5 months. This year it's critical—if rain doesn't come soon to cool the water, it will worsen severely. All the coral will bleach, and marine life won't enter the area because the water is too hot, the coral dies, and there's no food from algae covering the reef," he warned.
