Minister Pleased with Rayong Coral Health, Urges Juvenile Monitoring

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchat Chomklin expressed satisfaction after receiving a report from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources on a coral reef survey around Mu Koh Man in Rayong province. The area was declared a protected marine resource zone on May 29, 2026, becoming the sixth such zone under Article 20 of the 2015 Act on the Promotion of Marine and Coastal Resources Management, aimed at conserving and restoring marine resources.

Suchat said the survey, conducted on October 27-28, 2026, by the Eastern Gulf of Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, examined three stations using the line transect method. Prominent coral species included Porites lutea, Pavona spp., and Dipsastrea spp. Overall coral condition was rated fair to good. However, juvenile coral numbers were relatively low, necessitating long-term monitoring of reef recovery alongside vigilance for factors affecting the ecosystem.

The survey also recorded fish from the damselfish and cardinalfish families, as well as long-spined sea urchins, which play key roles in the reef ecosystem. Marine debris was minimal, mostly rope fragments, net pieces, and fertilizer bags from fishing activities, which must be properly managed to prevent harm to marine life and habitats.

The minister instructed continuous monitoring of changes to feed scientific data into conservation and restoration planning for Thailand's marine resources. He stressed that the sea is a vital resource requiring cooperation from all sectors, not just damage prevention but accurate data for targeted restoration — from tracking coral health to reducing marine debris and protecting marine habitats — so Thailand's marine abundance endures for future generations.