Phuket’s Pling Island and surrounding area closed to reduce coral bleaching

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation announced on Wednesday that Pling Island and the coral reefs around Sirinart National Park in Phuket, Thailand will be temporarily closed due to extensive coral bleaching caused by rising seawater temperatures.

Chief of National Park said that the closure of the area around the island will reduce human marine activity, which can speed up coral bleaching. A marine expert has previously said that the warming of sea water, exceeding 31 degree Celcius for 3 to 4 consecutive weeks, is the main cause of coral bleaching and eventual death.