"SEA"

Some 200 blue-spotted sea urchins, looking much like bright red rambutans, were spotted on Phuket’s Patong Beach on Tuesday.

Twenty-nine newborn leatherback sea turtles were released into Andaman Sea off Phuket on Friday night amid supervision by officials and watched by numerous locals.

The skeletal remains of an ancient whale, that was discovered in Samut Sakhon’s Ban Phaeo district in November last year has been shifted to the National Geological Museum in Pathum Thani province, Sommai Techawan, chief of the Department of Mineral Resources, said.

Bryde's whales are being seen again in the Gulf of Thailand, thanks to the abundance of food resources, which has drawn the attention of tourists.

Recent storms buffeting the coastline of the Andaman Sea have swept in precious gifts from the ocean such as tower shells or snails, which can be either eaten or sold boosting people’s income.

The Ang Thong National Marine Park in Surat Thani province was ordered closed from August 2 to 5, due to the impact of tropical storm ‘Sinlaku’ in Thailand.

Village chiefs and people living near the “Mon Mork Tawan”, a misty hill made popular among local tourists via social media, have been advised to prepare for an influx of travellers by setting clear guidelines on traffic control and waste disposal.

Marine animals are flourishing once again in the Gulf of Thailand due to the elimination of human waste.

The condition of corals in the lower Gulf of Thailand ranged from medium to perfect, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said on Saturday.

A survey conducted by the Kasikorn Research Centre found that most Thais will prefer going to the beach if the government launches a local tourism stimulus measure.

The ecology of Ko Lanta National Park in Krabi has made a dramatic recovery, two months after closing to tourists as part of lockdown measures to prevent Covid-19.

The large number of foreign tourists visiting each year includes a large group that has started to look at condominiums to buy, so they can have a place to stay when they visit Phuket.Some also sought additional rental income when they were not in residence.