Seaport threatens reefs off Satun
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The Bt25-billion Pakbara deep seaport project in Satun could play havoc with more than 9,000 rai of coral reefs in the port's vicinity, according to academics at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR).
The National Economic and Social Advisory Council (Nesac) called a meeting of environmentalists and concerned state agencies to look into the possible effects of the construction of the seaport.
Although the project’s environment impact assessment (EIA) was given the nod by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning in June 2009, concerns about environmental destruction and adverse impact on local communities were still rife.
Dr Nalinee Thongtam, a specialist on coral reefs at the DMCR, said the reefs in Satun’s La-Ngu district were found to be a balanced, productive and diverse ecosystem and the biggest on the Andaman Sea coast.
She said that in 2009 and 2010, coral-reef bleaching had caused extensive damage to reefs in Krabi and Phang Nga, but those in Satun were not badly affected.
Apart from coral reefs, the Pakbara Gulf is abundant with almost 5,000 rai of seagrass, but the EIA did not mention the effect on coral reefs and these seagrass fields.
She said the primary threat to the ecological systems from the presence of a deep seaport was the change in the currents. Destruction would be imminent, especially if there was an oil leak, Nalinee said.
“Although developers cite the success of artificial reefs in attracting fish and marine life, [such] reefs cannot compare with the diverse natural reefs in terms of ecological value and tourism,” she said.
Dr Sakanant Plathong, lecturer at Prince of Songkhla University, said La-Ngu district had the world’s oldest and most valuable sea fossils, which are over 400 million years old, but this information was not included in the EIA. Developers have destroyed these natural resources by blasting out rocks to pave the way for road and pier construction. “We wish the government would conduct a speedy survey about the fossils before they are completely destroyed,” he said.
Nesac deputy chairman Amporn Chitranukhroh said she would contact the agencies and see if the rock-blasting concession could be suspended and the area declared a reserve.
She said Nesac would this year present the Cabinet with its conclusions on whether the Pakbara deep seaport should be constructed, given the project’s advantages and drawbacks.
