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Fifteen
islands closed to divers to restore health of coral - 17 July,
2004
The Koh Chang National
Marine Park yesterday announced that it would close off 15 islands in the
Koh Chang Archipelago off this eastern province of Trat to divers over the
next three months in order to allow for the regeneration of coral reefs.
Mr. Saran Jaisa-art,
Head of the Koh Chang National Marine Park, said that the closure would come
at a time when the south-western monsoon left the seawater around the
islands area looking cloudy, making it difficult for divers to see where
they were heading.
As a result, coral was
at maximum danger from human damage between the months of June and
September.
Noting that the coral
had suffered extensive damage in the past, he said that the 15 islands in
the archipelago would be closed to tourists from 20 July for a period of
three months to allow the coral to revive.
Mr. Saran, who
described the islands as being part of Thailand's natural heritage, said
that the archipelago would reopen to divers on 30 September.
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