The presence of so many sharks is another encouraging sign for Maya Bay, which has become a model for successful marine conservation after years of ecological restoration efforts, said the researchers from the Marine National Park Research Centre Region 3 (Trang), reports the Bangkok Post.
The site gained fame ‒ and notoriety ‒ as the locale for the hit movie The Beach 25 years ago.
The discovery was made during a survey conducted from July 2-8 as part of the Shark Watch Project. It marks the highest number of blacktip reef sharks observed at one time in the bay, according to the research team.
The peak occurred on the morning of July 3 when researchers using aerial drones and BRUV (baited remote underwater video) units to count and study the sharks’ natural behaviour, spotted all 158 sharks simultaneously.
The large gathering of sharks is seen as a positive sign of a healthy marine ecosystem, the researchers said. As apex predators, blacktip reef sharks play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
The findings will support future conservation planning and sustainable ecotourism in Maya Bay, which continues to recover after years of environmental restoration, said the research team.