News, News, News (23rd
of September 2006)
Dear Guests, Friends and Colleagues.
For many, many years now,
we have been the "EYES AND
EARS" of the Mergui Archipelago. Back in 1997 we fell in love
with the area and it's beauty so we decided to offer live aboard
cruises to this remote area. Sadly not much later, we realized the
urgent need
for protection against destructive human activities in the Mergui
Archipelago, we have stayed on despite politics (the situation in
Burma), zero support
by NGO'S, Governments or other concerned Agencies. We have stayed
on, despite the loss of money (as you all know, a Western sponsored
boycott
is in place, which leaves no bread on the table of the small people,
but rest assured puts a BIG smile on the faces of the BIG players,
namely China, India, Thailand, Singapore, Korea and Russia, who happily
filled the gap left by the West to take part in the wholesale destruction
of Burma), the frustration, the endlessly slow process to get the
Mergui
Archipelago
protected, but today finally we have reason for Joy, (even if it
came to pass in an totally unexpected way).
News, News, News, as
some of
you already know, the blast fishing in Burma has stopped as of
23 of September 2006, as a result of the coup in Thailand, the Thai
police
(who looked away for years and most likely cashed in on it) lost
there Godfather, Mr. Thaksin and the military cracked down in Ranong
arresting
the Thai culprits responsible for years of blast fishing in Myanmar.
So the future looks brighter again for all living things in the
Mergui,
the last survey done by Reef Project, found that between
70 and 80% of the coral life is still in good shape.
In any case it is great news that we were able (a few dive operators)
through persistency and against all odds (that is, politics, politicians
and the Thai/Burmes dynamite mafia) who couldn't care less for the environment
in Myanmar.
Thanks to all for your
help and keep up the fight. On a side note, back in the
late 80's and early 90's we faced almost exactly the same situation
in Thailand, a military government, 1992 soldiers shot demonstrators
in the streets. The Similan/Surin Islands and many other places were
under threat from blast fishing and other destructive activities.
Again a few dive companies who did not give up, made a difference,
it took
the Thai Government 3 years to act, it took the Burme's Generals
5 years and lot's of persistence from our side.
Please contact us if you like to receive more information.
More good News, New dive site found ! (yep still actively searching despite
the diesel costs)
http://www.burma-liveaboard.com/engl/mergui_archipelago_divesites/burma_dendros_peak.htm
Have
a great day and best regards,
Michael
We
received
the
following
fantastic
news (10th
of
May
2004).
One Year after the Myanmar diving operators
organized
the
Mergui Archipelago Seminar
Today
we
are
happy
to
announce
that
Burma
has
moved
to
protect
the
shrinking
shark
population
in
it's
waters (sadly this is happening all over the world).
A
shark
protection
zone
was
proposed
late
last
month
for
Myeik
(Mergui)
archipelago,
which
comprises
more
then
800
islands
stretching
some
400km
north
to
south
along
the
peninsula
shared
with
Thailand.
Source:
Bangkok
Post
10th
of
May
2004.
According
to
a
Reef
Check
organization
survey
Myanmars's
reefs
boast
a
healthy
75%
coral
coverage
which
is
very
good
news
to
all
of
us,
for
more
information
please
visit
their
site.
But
the
current
political
situation
in
Myanmar
including
the
international
boycotts
make
the
country
easy
prey
for
it's
neighbors.
To
preserve
and
counter
any
future
negative
trends
Myanmar
Dive
Operators
recently
formed
the
MDO
committee
currently
a
loose
affiliation
Phuket
based
companies.
Our common goal is to preserve the beauty of the
Mergui
Archipelago
and
the
establishment
of
an
Marine
National
Park.
COMPANY REPRESENTED BY:
Siam
Dive ‘n Sail 1 Mr John Williams,
Viking Liveaboards 2 Mr Mike Hjort, Kontiki 3 Mr Patrick Catellani, SEAL
4 Mr Adam Frost, Scuba Quest- MV Faah Yai 5 Mr Alain Merret, Chulalongkorn
University Bangkok 6 Dr Thorn Thamrongnawasawat, Free Lance Conservationist
7 Mr Paul
Foley, Seaworld 8 Mr Claude Maigrot de Crissey, Fantasea Divers – Ocean
Rover Cruises 9 Mr Jeroen Deknatel, Aqua Sports – Aqua One 10 Mr
Kasidith Snidvongse Na Ayudhaya, Santana 11 Mrs Andrea Hinrichs, Genesis
Livaboards
12 Mr Pascal Laigle, Santana 13 Mr Horst Hinrichs, Private Dive 14 Mr Alexander
Kroner, Divemaster 15 Mrs Pornchan Changkajorn, Seaworld 16 Mrs Phawadee
de Crissey
Please consider to book with one of the above
companies to support our goal.
please continue next page
