Team recovers 2 tonnes of gear, preventing harm to marine life
PUBLISHED : 27 Feb 2026 at 18:56
A diver from Mu Ko Similan National Park clears a mass of netting and ropes from abandoned fishing gear entangled in sea‑fan corals off Koh Payan (Similan No.3) in Phangnga province on Thursday. (Screenshots from video made by Mu Ko Similan National Park)
PHANGNGA – Divers have recovered abandoned fish aggregating devices (FADs) tangled around deep‑sea coral reefs, preventing serious harm to marine life including turtles, dolphins and dugongs in Mu Ko Similan National Park.
Rangers spotted two large FADs drifting near Koh Payan (Similan No.3) during a patrol on Thursday. The devices are believed to have dragged lost or abandoned fishing nets — known as ghost nets — into a sea fan coral formation about 45 metres below the surface, park chief Siriwat Suebsai said on Friday.
A specialist dive team was deployed and found a massive tangle of netting wrapped around sea fan corals, a slow‑growing species vital to the reef ecosystem.
After assessing the damage, the team conducted a carefully planned recovery to avoid further harm to the fragile corals.
Eventually they were able to lift the entire entangled mass of FADs and ghost‑netting — with a combined weight of about 2,000 kilogrammes — to the surface for proper disposal.
Mr Siriwat warned that ghost nets pose a severe threat to marine habitats. Left drifting at sea with no owner, they can trap and drown marine animals such as sea turtles, dolphins, sharks and dugongs.
They also break and smother coral reefs that take decades or even centuries to grow. Over time, the nets degrade into microplastics that enter the food chain and ultimately affect human health.
The operation not only protected endangered wildlife and preserved a sensitive coral ecosystem, Mr Siriwat noted, but also underscored the importance of collective efforts to safeguard Thailand’s marine environment.
FADs are floating or anchored man-made structures designed to attract pelagic fish like tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo. Used globally, they aggregate fish for easier harvesting by purse seine or artisanal fishing.
While they are effective, FADs also face heavy scrutiny because of high bycatch rates and ocean pollution.
