Director the Marine National Park Management division of the DNP, Nattapol Rattanaphan, said, “The DNP will close many national parks from May 16 to October 15. The parks will open again October 16 through to May 15 next year.
“These affected parks are Mo Ko Surin National Park, Mu Ko Similan National Park, Koh Rok and Koh Ha in Mu Ko Lanta National Park, Koh Hin and Muang Daeng in Hat Chao Mai National Park, and Koh Ardang Rawee and Koh Lipe in the Tarutao National Park in Satun,” said Mr Nattapol.
Asked whether any additional areas would be closed during this period to allow marine life to recover, Mr Nattapol said, “No, no extra areas will be closed.
“I did receive a request to open some areas including Koh Rawee in Satun and Chao Mai Beach in Trang, but I refused these requests,” he explained.
“During the course of the closure officials from Mo Ko Similan National Park will keep an eye out to make sure no tourists are taken to these area.
“In addition, all those involved in the tourism industry, including tour companies, have been told of the closures and not to enter them.
“Tomorrow national park officials in the affected areas will drop buoys to block the areas,” he said.
“The monsoon season is a time when marine life should be allowed to restore itself and fishing has also been banned in certain areas as fishermen are known to cause a lot of damages to marine life,” Mr Nattapol added.