1
2
1 Department of Marine Science, Chulalongkorn University
2
Background
Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park, (Fig. 1) is under Marine National Park
Division, Royal Forestry Department. It has been appreciated as the islands unique nature and research potential. Mu Koh Surin was eventually gazetted as the 29 th
National Park of Thailand on 9 th July 1981.
Mu Koh Surin National Park is situated in the Andaman sea, approximately 60 km from the coast of Phangnga province in the southern peninsula region (9

21

50

N -
9

3

30

N; 97

48

00

E - 97

54

25

E). The park covers an area of approximately 135 km
2
. Of the protected area about 102 km
2
or 76% is sea . The park comprises 5 main islands; Koh Surin Nua, Koh Surin Tai, Koh Ree (or Koh satok), Koh Glang (or Koh
Pachumba) and Koh Khai (or Koh Torinla). Koh Surin Nua and Koh Surin Tai are large islands and are situated in a north-south axis. A few kilometers to the north of the park is the Burmese border and about 100 kms south are Mu Koh Similan
N a t i o n a l P a r k .
There are approximately 300 sea gypsies in Mu Koh Surin Marine National
Park. The sea gypsies or Morgan are a nomadic sea people inhabiting islands ranging from India to Indonesia. The name Morgan is derived from their language which is universal to all sea gypsy groups. Sea gypsies live in a very primitive existence and as such have a great respect for nature and the environment. They rely upon their environment for food, clothing and for the materials for boat construction. They live by spear fishing and collecting shellfish. Being nomadic they spend a lot of their time for travelling, but they avoid travelling during the monsoon season from May to
November. During this time they moor their boats in a sheltered location to form a temporary village of several families. These villages then break up when they start travelling again in December until April. The sea gypsies do not have a written language, but many of them can speak Thai and Yawi Malaysian. Every year during
April an important ceremony occurs on Surin and sea gypsies from far away come to attend. They often come from as far away as Myanmar and the islands of the peninsula Thailand and Malaysia. The festival is called "Loi Reua" and involves ancestor worship, in the ceremony the spirits are asked to care for and protect the sea g y p s i e s .
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E c o l o g i c a l f e a t u r e s a n d a s s e t s
The islands of Surin are very indented with wide sandy bays protected by rocky headlands. Due to their great distance from the mainland and the presence of deep water, ocean currents running between the islands and the mainland the water at park is very clear and pollution free. All the islands are covered with healthy forest thus reducing the amount of eroded material entering the sea, therefore the water is very c l e a r a n d v i s i b i l i t y o f a r o u n d 2 0 m u n d e r w a t e r i s u s u a l .
The pollution free clear water stimulates healthy coral growth, especially in the sheltered bays on the eastern sides of the islands. Coral grows by accreting new material on top of previous growth, thus growth occurs upwards and outwards. Corals grow best in clear water and generally are found between low water mark and around
20 m deep. Deeper than this the seabed is sandy. On the most exposed locations, especially on the western side, where strong waves batter the shore during the stormy monsoon season, coral growth is poor with very stunted forms present, here bare r o c k y c o a s t s a r e f o u n d w i t h s a n d o c c u r i n g a t a r o u n d 1 0 m d e p t h .
The seas around the islands are very rich in marine life as well as numerous types of hard corals, soft corals, seafeathers, starfish, spiny lobster, giant clam, sea anemone and seapens. This richness of life is reflected in the many species of fish found inhabiting the reefs, species include; parrotfish, triggerfish, clownfish, black tip shark, lion fish, angel fish and groupers etc. Rare marine animals which are occasionally s e e n i n c l u d e w h a l e s h a r k , s e a t u r t l e s a n d w h a l e s .
Objectives of Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park
The main objectives of the park are shown as follows:
1. Preserve and conserve natural resource and the environment in a condition whereby they can provide sustainable benefits to society. park ’
2. Provide opportunities to the public for education, research and recreation that is within the s carrying capacity.
Successful management schemes
Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park has achieved some degree of success and has been recognized as the best Marine Park in Thailand. There are several successful management practices as the following list.
1. 5-year management plan (2002-2004)
2. Resource management (see the organization chart in Fig.2)
 Park Zoning
- Intensive Use Zone (IUZ)
- Outdoor Recreation Zone (ORZ)
- Special Conservation Zone (SCZ)
- Primitive Zone (PRZ)
- Special Use Zone (SUZ)
- General Use Zone (GUZ)
 Mooring buoy installation and maintenance
 Patrolling of marine area and enforcement of fisheries regulation by
park rangers
 Temporary closure of areas for rehabilitation of the reefs
 No-commercial fishing regulation within 3 km offshore
3. Research and monitoring (see the updated results in Tables 1 and 2)
 Long-term monitoring by Phuket Marine Biological Center
and Kasetsart University
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 Coral reef mapping
 Biodiversity research
 Reef Check training for park rangers
4. Tourism and public education
 Park fee: Entrance fee, and scuba diving fee
 Park permit for tour boats
 Public education and awareness programs by Park Division
and mass media
5. Community programs
 Economic incentive program for Sea Gypsies
Current legislation
The existing laws and regulations that can be enforced in the marine park areas are shown as follows:
1.
The Fisheries Law of 1974
2.
The National Park Act of 1961
3.
The Enhancement and Conservation of National Environment Quality Act
(NEQA) of 1975
4.
The Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act of 1992
5.
Ministerial Regulations and Notifications
Further Needs
The most important further needs for the marine park are as the following list
 Coordination among agencies
 Financial support
 Man power of the marine park
Future management plan
A brief list of future management plan of the marine park are as the following items.
1.
Forming of working group from various partners and stakeholders
2.
Inventory of existing data and information necessary for the management planning
3.
Analysis of the compiled information
4.
Setting 5-year and 25-year visions
5.
Planning of management framework in accordance with the existing programs and visions
5.1 Resource management
Revision of zoning plan i.e. strict reserves, recovery zone, scientific zone, recreation zone, intensive use zone, general use zone and special use zone
Maintenance of mooring buoys and defining buoys categories for various proposes.
Training on legislation and enforcement for park rangers as there are some overlapping regulations enforced by different agencies
Use of analysed information for better criteria to support decision making of site selection to be closed for rehabilitation
5.2 Research and monitoring
Support existing long-term monitoring and biodiversity research
Update of coral reef data
Identify which research is necessary for coral reef management due to limited funds
Looking for other sources of funding so that the program could be sustainable in the future
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5.3 Tourism and public education
Improvement of the visitor center
Support public awareness programs in order to improve visitors’ behaviors
Enhance understanding of visitor concerning visitor fee
5.4 Community programs
- Economic incentive program for Sea Gypsies
6. Capacity building program
6.1 Infrastructure guideline, e.g. site planning
6.2 Infrastructure maintenance and improvement
6.3 Man power management, e.g. right man for the right job, training
6.4 Support of necessary equipment
7. Provide budget guideline for the park for short-term and long-term
management
7.1 Identify additional sources of financial support
8. Program evaluation
8.1 Defining criteria used to evaluate the success of the program, e.g.
improvement of reef condition, better understanding of visitors,
visitors’ satisfaction, community acceptance, regulation
compliance, etc.
8.2 Actual evaluation
Acknowledgment
We are most grateful to all colleagues for providing information as the following list.
 Marine National Park Division, Royal Forestry Department
 Department of Fisheries
 Reef Check Thailand 2001
 www.talaythai.com
 Advanced Thailand Geographic
 Trips Magazine
B i b l i o g r a p h y
Chanmethakul, T. and Sarasas, P. 2002. Reef Check Thailand 2001, Reef Check
F o u n d a t i o n , P h u k e t M a r i n e B i o l o g i c a l C e n t e r .
Department of Fisheries, 1999. Coral Reef Maps in Thai Waters. Vol. 1-2, 284 + 198 p p .
( i n T h a i )
Satapoomin, U. 2002. Comparative study of reef fish fauna in Thai waters: the Gulf of
Thailand versus the Andaman Sea. Technical Paper No. 1/2002, Phuket Marine
B i o l o g i c a l C e n t e r , D e p a r t m e n t o f F i s h e r i e s , 4 1 p p .
Sudara, S. and Yeemin, T. 2002. States of Coral Reef Monitoring and Data
Integration: Thailand. Paper presented at the Regional GCRMN Workshop for
Southeast and East Asia: Towards More Effective Monitoring and Data
A s s e m b l i n g i n S o u t h e a s t a n d E a s t A s i a , I s h i g a k i , J a p a n .
Yeemin, T., Sudara, S., Krairapanond, N., Silsoonthorn, C., Ruenasawang, N. and
Asa, S. 2001. International Coral Reef Initiative Country Report: Thailand. Paper presented at the Regional ICRI Workshop for East Asia, Philippines.
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Andaman Sea
Ao Mai Ngam
Hin Kong
Ao Sai Daeng
North Surin Island
Stork Island
Ao Jaak
Ao Sai Ane
Pajumba Island
Ao Suthep
South Surin Island
Ao Mae Yai
Park Headquater
Ao Chong Kaad
Hin Pae
Ao Tao
Ao Pak Kaad
Tarinla Island
Fig.1 Map of Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park )Source: www.talaythai.com(
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Table 1 Comparison of % live coral cover data collected previously by line-intercept method and recently by Reef Check method. (  decrease,  increase), after
Chanmethakul and Sarasas 2002.
STATIONS
% Live coral cover from previous line intercept assessment (study year in bracket)
% Live coral cover from Reef Check data
(in 2001)
Trend of change
Surin National Park
Koh Pachumba
Koh Stork
North-Mae Yai Bay (outer01)
South-Mae Yai Bay
South-Mai Ngam Bay
Sai-deang Bay
Koh Torinla
SouthEast-South Surin
Front of Office01
Front of Office02
15 (1998)
12 (1998)
37 (1998)
32 (1998)
50 (1998)
19 (1998)
32 (1998)
59 (1998)
15 (1998)
15 (LT, 1998)
29
20
66
19
71
24
48
49
22
26










Table 2 Conditions of coral reef in Mo Koh Surin Marine National Park )Source: Department of
Fisheries, 1999(
Condition of Coral Reef (%)
Locations
Coral Reef
Area (Km 2 (
Very good
Good Fair Poor Very poor
Koh Ree
(Koh Satok)
Koh Surin
Kok Pachumba
(Koh Glang)
Koh Torinla
Total
0.0791
7.1741
0.1113
0.1723
7.5368
0
0.7
0
57.1
14.5
16. 7
8.5
0
28.6
13.5
33.3
41.2
80
14.3
42.3
50
33.3
20
0
28.5
0
16.3
0
0
4.1
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Administration

Correspondence

Accounting and budget

Material and equipment

Vehicles and building

Planning

Assessment
Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park
Protection and Resource Management Services and Development
Academics

Patrol and law enforcement

Permission

Indigenous people management

Survey and construction

Public hearing, complaint

Park signs

Visitor services

Statistics

Training

Volunteer
Fig. 2 The organization chart of Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park

Survey and monitoring

Park management

National conservation project

Research
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