Samet: Seven to the rescue

BANGKOK, 9 August 2013: Thailand’s Pollution Control Department has formed seven committees to deal with the rehabilitation of the marine environment at Samet Island’s Phrao Bay, after an oil slick severely damaged the ecology of the national park island, late last month.
Marine Department’s general director, Sornsak Saensombat, said the seven committees would cover all matters concerning marine environment including sea quality, coral, seagrass, marine life, mangrove forests, beaches and other related pollution concerns.
“There will be follow-up air and sea quality checks as well as tests of the levels of Parametre Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) around Samet Island,” he said.
The impact of the oil spill is expected to last for a year. Samples of sand and other marine environment-related substances were collected at Phrao bay’s beach for residue analysis earlier this week.
The result of sea quality checks and other contaminated substances, particularly heavy metals, will be concluded by next Tuesday.
“Authorities are now investigating the cause of the PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) oil spill, which is expected to be concluded by the end of the month.”
Public Health Minister, Pradit Sintavanarong, said eight samples of seafood, mussels and fresh fish were collected from markets in Phe and Klaeng on the mainland, around 12 km from Samet Island, to measure possible residues from the oil slick.
“Officials found mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic at standard levels in the food samples, as well as heavy metals well below a health-risk level.”
Rayong health officials inspected 70 food shops on Samet Island, Mae Rampung Beach and Phe market, and found that their seafood was safe from toxins and met the required standard, the minister added.
Meanwhile, Tourism Authority of Thailand joins with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to organise a media and travel agents trip to inspect the bay and island 17 to 18 August.
Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing, Thawatchai Arunyik, said the inspection will show the real condition on-site and nearby areas for media and travel agency to evaluate.
The authority will also create a new marketing strategy to promote the area, he said.
Oil leaked from a PTT Global Chemical pipeline that was drawing crude oil off a tanker, late last month. The slick drifted northwards to Phrao bay on the western coast of Samet, a popular holiday island noted for its squeaky white sand. All of the island’s east coast bays remained clear.
Samet Island, about 3 km off the coast of Rayong and 150 km southeast of Bangkok, is a popular holiday spot for Thais and foreigners living in the capital. The island attracts about 1 million visitors a year, mostly on weekends.

Sourced: ttgasia