Yellow-band disease discovered in coral reefs off Sattahip and Samaesarn islands in Chonburi

Chonburi —

The Chonburi Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has increased its patrols after Yellow-band disease was discovered in coral reefs off Sattahip and Samaesarn islands.

The disease was found on October 13th by the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center in the Eastern Upper Gulf of Thailand, according to Attaphon Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

Yellow-band disease is a coral disease that attacks and kills colonies of coral, according to Attaphon. The cause of the disease varies from the coral being under stress from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. The disease can spread from one coral to another.

As a primary solution, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources joined hands with Naval Division 1 and other relevant agencies to separate the infected corals from the good ones to prevent the spreading.

Attaphon said the department still has not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of the disease; therefore, he urged Sattahip residents, tourists, or divers who stumble upon infected corals to dial 1362. The line is manned 24 hrs.