BANGKOK, Thailand – The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has taken legal action against an oil tanker after it was found to have illegally dropped anchor on a coral reef off the Gulf of Siam, causing extensive damage to marine ecosystems.
DMCR Director-General Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi said the incident was reported by the Division of Protection, Suppression, and Protected Area Management through the Racha Islands Marine Protected Area Management Center in Phuket province. Following the report, the department immediately dispatched a team of diving officers to inspect the affected area.
The inspection confirmed that the vessel’s anchor had severely damaged a wide area of the coral reef. Authorities documented the damage, collected evidence at the site, and filed formal complaints against the vessel owner and all parties involved, in accordance with relevant laws.
The DMCR stated that anchoring on natural coral reefs or designated reef restoration sites is a serious offense under the 2019 Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, as corals are classified as protected wildlife. Any action that damages corals, including destruction or disturbance, is subject to legal penalties. (NNT)
