#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

Status of Southeast Asia Coral Reefs
ICRAN
MO KOH SURIN, THAILAND –ICRAN DEMONSTRATION SITE
Mo Koh Surin National Park is in the Andaman Sea, about 50km off of Thailand’s
west coast. The Surin Islands are the southerly extension of the Mergui Archipelago
and are surrounded by extensive reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds. A population
of sea gypsies inhabit the islands and are responsible for much of target species
fishing. The primary resource users, however, are tourists and the Park fees, dive
fees and boat permits contribute significantly to the Park budget. The Marine National
Park Division and the Royal Forestry Department jointly manage the park. They
developed a 5-year strategic plan, which ends in 2002, and contains zoning plans,
mooring buoy installations, ranger patrols and reef closures. The strategic plan
designed for Surin was also adopted by neighboring Similan Marine National Park.
Institutions that are involved in research and planning for the marine park include
regional universities, Marine National Parks, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Office
of Environmental Planning, Chulalongkorn University and the Phang-Nga Province.
The site is currently under consideration for World Heritage status.
With the help of ICRAN, there is the intention of revising the management to include
zoning, maintaining mooring buoys, conducting legislation and enforcement training,
and providing decision support analysis. Plans are also in progress to improve
tourism and public awareness, build local capacity and evaluate program success.
Ecological Monitoring: The Phuket Marine Biological Center and Reef Check are
responsible for much of the ecological monitoring in Surin. Current research
priorities include updating reef data, reef mapping, carrying capacity and biodiversity
research.
Socio-economic Monitoring: There has been socio-economic evaluation of
indigenous sea gypsy livelihood, but there are no established monitoring programs.
Contact: Suraphol Sudara, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand,
ssurapho@chula.ac.th
Coral reefs are 60% of the natural resources.
Ecological Monitoring is effective.
Socio-economic Monitoring is planned.
147