Impacts of marine debris on coral communities at Hin Chalam, Chonburi Province

Located at the south of Ko Samaesarn, about 15 km offshore, Hin Chalam is one of the most famous dive sites in Chonburi Province, the Inner Gulf of Thailand. A small rocky island has been used for military practices of the... [ view full abstract ]

Located at the south of Ko Samaesarn, about 15 km offshore, Hin Chalam is one of the most famous dive sites in Chonburi Province, the Inner Gulf of Thailand. A small rocky island has been used for military practices of the Royal Thai Navy. The healthy coral communities harbor high diversity of marine organisms are found in the depth of 5- 28 m. In this study, we presents the possible impacts of marine debris on coral reefs. Data collection was conducted through a reef cleanup program led by a volunteer group for conservation of Thai waters (Save Our Sea) and researchers during 21 – 22 November 2015. The results from the cleanup activities showed that all marine debris were abandoned fishing gears (about 1,000 kg) which can be divided into four categories, i.e. fishing nets (95%), fish hook lines (3%), squid hook lines (1%) and fish traps (1%). The negative impacts of abandoned fishing nets on corals were partial colony mortality (Porites lutea, P. rus, Pocillopora damicornis, Acropora divaricata, A. millepora, A. hyacinthus, A. valenciennesi, Pavona decussata and Platygyra sinensis), fragmentation (P. damicornis, A. divaricata, A. millepora, A. hyacinthus, A. valenciennesi, P. decussata) and white band disease (P. lutea) . Moreover, some fishes, crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins and several macrobenthic invertebrates were caught by the abandoned fishing nets.