Vice Admiral Suwat Donsakul, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command and Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center (Thai-MECC) Region 3 branch, led an event on Monday (Nov 25) that saw the installation of mooring buoys and fish egg buoys, and the collection of underwater garbage at the world-famous bay.
The environmental conservation initiative is part of the *’Unity in Loyalty to Protect the Clean Thai Sea’ project, organised in honor of His Majesty the King’s 6th cycle birthday anniversary celebrated on July 28, said an official report of the event.
The project was a collaborative effort by the Khao Yai National Park Protection Foundation, the Plant Genetic Conservation Foundation under Royal Initiative, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the Royal Thai Navy, the report noted.
The activity took place aboard the offshore patrol vessel ‘Tor 111’ and was attended by Gen Surayud Chulanont, President of the Privy Council and Chairman of the Khao Yai National Park Protection Foundation, who was the guest of honour and presided over the ceremony.
The initiative aims to protect marine ecosystems around Maya Bay, a world-renowned tourist destination.
The laying mooring buoys is to prevent anchor damage to coral reefs by providing designated anchorage points for boats, while the installation of ‘fish egg buoys’ is to support the local marine ecosystem and breeding grounds of marine life to promote biodiversity.
The underwater garbage collection efforts were to remove debris from the seabed to maintain the pristine underwater environment.
V/Adm Suwat emphasised the importance of such efforts in safeguarding Thailand’s marine resources.
“This project reflects our commitment to protecting the sea, preserving its natural beauty, and ensuring its sustainability for future generations,” he said.