In 2016, Maya Bay welcomed a staggering 1.73 million guests, however its reputation devastated its delicate ecosystem.
Quick ahead to 2024, and the once-threatened bay stands as a testomony to the ability of environmental stewardship.
Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a number one marine biologist explains that the goal level for Maya Bay was to arrange a system that may assist us, and would develop into a everlasting system that may nonetheless enable tourists to take pleasure in Maya Bay.
Earlier than the closure, Maya Bay was besieged by over 100 long-tailed boats each day, wreaking havoc on its coral reefs and marine life.
“Earlier than the closure, there have been no sharks. At the moment, there are about 60 sharks within the Maya Bay space.”
Because of stringent laws, solely 300 guests per hour are actually permitted, with protecting measures comparable to piers and boardwalks applied to minimise ecological impression. The outcomes converse volumes: coral protection has elevated from a mere 8% to twenty to 30% by 2023.
Nevertheless, the challenges persist. The worldwide craze sparked by Discovering Nemo compounded present threats to species like clownfish. In response, initiatives such because the clownfish and shark restoration venture have made strides, but conservation stays an ongoing battle.
Enter SAii Resorts, spearheading efforts to protect marine biodiversity. Collaborating with government our bodies and native NGOs, initiatives just like the Save Our Sharks programme have seen tangible outcomes, with 30 sharks launched and 29 eggs nurtured, reported The Nation.
The success story doesn’t finish right here. The Marine Improvement Centre at Saii Village Phi Phi Island represents a beacon of hope for the longer term, aiming to extend biodiversity by 30% by 2030.
Concerns over the Maya Bay’s sustainability prompted the Thai Division of Nationwide Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) to shutter its shores in 2018 for environmental rehabilitation. After a painstaking two-year closure, Maya Bay cautiously reopened in 2022, albeit with stringent laws.
In associated information, the world’s forests have undergone a drastic reduction of nearly 20 million square kilometres over the previous 30 years, plunging from 42.03 million sq. kilometres in 1992 to 40.44 million sq. kilometres in 2021, as per the newest knowledge from the World Financial institution.