Work on the final segment of a Jomtien Beach artificial reef got underway April 24 with top Pattaya officials helping to release fish and shrimp into the sea.
Crews began to load the first of 1,300 concrete pipes on to boats at Pier 2 April 24. They will be laid in about 10-15 meters of water between 1 and 1.5 kilometers off Jomtien Beach through the end of May. The project is the latest stage of the “Baan Pla” program, which saw the first concrete pipes and cubes dropped in the bay five years ago.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and city officials symbolically release fish and shrimp to generate interest in the project to restore the area’s natural resources.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and city council members helped release 15,000 sea bass and shrimp from the Chonburi Fishing Association into the ocean to help get the project started, although the reef is not yet completed and the coral necessary to support marine life will take at least a year to begin growing.
“This project was organized because natural resources have been destroyed, decreasing the number of aquatic animals,” Ronakit said. “It has become necessary to increase the aquatic animals by creating an ecosystem attracting fish to take shelter and hide from prey to revive and preserve the coastal aquatic system.”
Itthiphol said the reef will also improve water-focused tourism and help the fishing industry.
