20-9-2023 (BANGKOK) Off the eastern coast of Thailand, an unusually dense plankton bloom has emerged, causing concerns among marine scientists and posing a significant threat to the livelihoods of local fishermen who rely on mussel farming in these waters.
Marine experts have reported that some areas in the Gulf of Thailand are experiencing plankton levels exceeding ten times the norm, resulting in the water taking on a vivid green hue and devastating marine life.
Marine scientist Tanuspong Pokavanich remarked, “This is the first time that I’ve seen it so bad. It is very severe.”
Typically, plankton blooms occur once or twice a year and last for two to three days. They can be harmful to the environment, generating toxins, or they can lead to the death of marine creatures by depleting oxygen levels in the water and blocking sunlight.
The coasts of Chonburi are renowned for their mussel farms, with over 80% of the nearly 300 plots in the region suffering from the impact of this extraordinary plankton bloom, according to Satitchat Thimkrajong, the president of the Chonburi Fisheries Association.
Fisherman Suchat Buwat, among those affected, has incurred losses exceeding 500,000 baht (approximately US$14,000) due to the plankton bloom, with his colleagues reporting similarly devastating losses.
While the exact cause of this intense plankton bloom remains uncertain, scientists suspect that pollution and the intensified heat associated with climate change are significant factors.
“El Niño causes drought and higher sea temperatures,” explained Tanuspong. “Everything will get worse if we don’t adjust how we manage resources, water waste, and how we live.”
Earlier this year, a plankton bloom resulted in thousands of dead fish washing up along the shores of Thailand’s southern Chumphon province. Experts attributed this phenomenon to the influence of climate change.
Globally, marine heatwaves have become a growing concern this year, with thousands of dead fish appearing on Texan beaches and experts warning of algal blooms along the British coast due to rising sea temperatures. The incident off Thailand’s coast underscores the far-reaching impacts of environmental changes on marine ecosystems and local economies.
