Divers clear 500kg of ‘ghost nets’ from around Payang Island

Similan Islands National Park officials successfully removed a massive 500kg of discarded fishing gear, commonly known as “ghost nets,” during a routine Marine Smart Patrol near Payang Island.

The operation, which took place yesterday, was part of an ongoing effort to safeguard the Andaman Sea’s fragile ecosystem and restore the pristine condition of one of Thailand’s most renowned marine sanctuaries.

While conducting a Marine Smart Patrol, an advanced surveillance system used to monitor protected areas, officers spotted a large cluster of fishing nets entangled on the eastern side of Payang Island (also known as Koh Song).

The area is considered highly vulnerable due to its significant biodiversity.

Upon discovery, a team from the SL.1 National Park Protection Unit (Koh Miang) was immediately dispatched to retrieve the gear before it could inflict further damage on the seabed.

Siriwat Suebsai, chief of the Similan Islands National Park, emphasised the severe environmental threat posed by abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG).

He said ALDFG poses a multifaceted danger. It destroys coral reefs, as the netting scrapes against and smothers them, causing the coral to break or die from a lack of sunlight.

Furthermore, it acts as a deadly trap for rare marine life, such as sea turtles and schools of fish, which often become entangled, unable to escape, and which eventually perish.

Over time, these nets also decompose into micro-plastics, which then enter the marine food chain.

“These ‘ghost nets’ act as silent killers under the waves. They don’t just vanish. They cause a cycle of destruction that affects the entire marine food chain,” he added.

He also urged fisher folk to be more mindful of their equipment, stressing that protecting Thailand’s natural resources is a collective responsibility to ensure they remain intact for future generations.