Sunscreen Among Contributing Factors Killing Phuket's Coral Reefs

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, January 18 – Thursday, January 24, 2019 Since 2011 / Volume IX / No. 3 20 Baht FAMILY OF BRIT CEO INSIST HE WAS MURDERED > PAGE 2 NEWS PAGE 3 Smart Driver’s Licences launch CREAM OF hits legal curb THE CORALS LIFE PAGE 11 Baz Daniel looks back at the ride of a lifetime Photo: Prarop Plangngarn, Chief of the Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2 SUNSCREEN AMONG CONTRIBUTING FACTORS KILLING PHUKET’S CORAL REEFS The Phuket News of a national committee to protect tours, snorkelling and scuba diving, weaker in recovering from other [email protected] marine and coastal resources. commercial fishing, wastewater, and effects, even coral bleaching from Joining him will be Department others,” he told The Phuket News warmer water temperatures. he impact of harmful con- of Marine and Coastal Resources this week. In contained environments, the SPORT PAGE 32 taminants in sunscreen as (DMCR) regional chief Watcharin Na “Phuket’s coral reefs need more effect can be much more pronounced. Ta contributing factor in the Thalang, responsible for all marine protection. Sunscreen is not a main In announcing the indefinite Disabled sailing deaths of coral reefs around Phuket natural resources along the Anda- variable directly causing damage to closure of the world-famous Maya will be presented to Deputy Prime man coast. corals, but it will be good to start Bay at Phi Phi Island in October Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan Mr Tanu includes the harmful raising awareness about it at this last year, Chongkhlai Woraphong- boat makes and other high-ranking officials at a elements found in artificial sun- meeting,” he added. sathorn, Deputy Director-General European debut Cabinet meeting in Bangkok today protection creams among the fallout Dr Nalinee Thongtham, an expert of the Department of Natural Parks, (Jan 18). from human activities that are killing at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre Wildlife and Plant Conservation Leading the presentation will be the reefs around Phuket. (PMBC), explained that while the (DNP), explained to the press that the Tanu Nabnien, Director of the con- “Sunscreen is not a major factor parts per million of the harmful ele- hordes of tourists applied sunscreeen servation group Andaman Organisa- alone, but it is one element that is ments in sunscreens are not enough lotions before swimming in the bay tion for Participatory Restoration of contributing to the damage being done to directly cause corals to die, they without knowing that such chemicals Natural Resource. Mr Tanu is also to corals around Phuket, along with do interfere with corals’ health to the eventually killed or seriously dam- the Andaman region representative tourism activities such as ‘try dive’ point that the corals become much aged the corals… CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019 [email protected] Loris tout dumps animal with tourist, flees beach to avoid News arrest > page 4 A dying concern Family of Brit CEO in Phuket insist he was murdered The Phuket News [email protected] he family of a British CEO of an B800-mil- Tlion high-end housing Malaysian tourist Koo Shen Liang, 35, was taken to development in Phuket have hospital after he was revived during a snorkelling filed a formal complaint over trip at Racha Island. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub the police conclusion that his death was an accident. The family insist that the CEO, Malaysian tourist revived Steven James Granville, was murdered. during snorkelling trip The complaint was filed by A MALAYSIAN unconscious and unre- the family’s lawyer, Vincent tourist was resuscitated sponsive. McOwen, at the Technology and brought back to life “They performed CPR Crime Suppression Division Attorney Vincent McOwen holds up a photo of Steven James Granville at the Technology after he was pulled from on him for around 30 min- (TCSD) in Bangkok, reports Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok last Friday (Jan 11). Photo: Khaosod English the water unconscious utes before he regained Khaosod English. and unresponsive during consciousness, and was Of note, the TCSD is over- claimed they had paid a total ued to operate smoothly – was sion of Karon Police, and has a snorkelling trip to Racha then taken back to Chalong seen by the high-profile Im- of B217 million – an average sold to the low-key Corbis lost B15mn in a losing legal Island, south of Phuket, last Pier,” Ms Ariya explained. migration Bureau Chief Pol Lt of B11.4 million each – but Group, a private equity, corpo- battle to get their property Sunday (Jan 13). Mr Koo arrived at Gen Surachate Hakparn, who that Phase 1 of the project rate investment and develop- shares back. Ariya Noktajan, a tour Chalong Pier at about 1pm. previously served as deputy had stalled and Phase 2 had ment group headquartered in The lawyer asked police to guide with the group, ex- Officers from the Phuket commander of the national never begun. Spain, for an undisclosed price. investigate two former partners plained to The Phuket News Tourist Assistance Centre Tourist Police. Mr Granville denied the Corbis sold the hotel to an of Mr Granville who were that the tourist, Koo Shen (TAC) who were on hand Mr McOwen said the fam- deception charges and the overseas investor in December involved in another project Liang, 35, was on a trip at Chalong Pier when Mr ily was coming forward now judge in return denied him 2013. The transaction occurred in 2012, reported Khaosod. organised by tour company Koo arrived, confirmed, that Mr Granville has died bail for the period leading up in the private market and He alleged the pair asked Blue Corner International “Mr Koo, who suffers from after being brain dead for four to his trial. details were not made public. Mr Granville to transfer 99% Co Ltd. asthma, was conscious but years in a UK hospital. He was acquitted and re- Mr Granville was later of Puravarna Resort’s shares Mr Koo had lost con- very weak.” “We are here today to ask leased after 18 months in involved in a horrific bike – worth over B1bn – reasoning sciousness whilst snor- Mr Koo was sped to for a full and fair investiga- custody awaiting trial for accident and was flown home that his criminal record could kelling sometime about the Accident & Emergency tion,” Mr McOwen said. “It deception and his accuser, for permanent care in Britain. affect the project. According 11:30am, Ms Ariya ex- Centre at the yet-to-open is an ongoing case but we are Anand Kumar Sen, at last With a fourth of his brain to Mr McOwen, the siblings plained. Chalong Hospital, then to hearing nothing back. We are report was on bail awaiting heavily damaged, he was promised to return the shares “Tour guides noticed Vachira Phuket Hospital in getting no feedback.” his appeal against a conviction unable to function and spent within six months if a deal from the boat that he was Phuket Town, then trans- Mr Granville was the for making false accusations. four years on hospital bed rest wasn’t forthcoming, not moving and did not ferred to Bangkok Hospital former CEO of the failed However, in 2013, the re- before dying at 52 last year. Less than three months respond to shouts for him Phuket. Puravarna project in Rawai, nowned hotel was offered “He was transferred back after the shares were allegedly to come back to the boat,” Mr Koo and four friends which at the time included for sale for B1.3 billion by to England, where was he was transferred, on June 24, 2013, she said. he was travelling with ar- in its portfolio Phuket’s first Puravarna Holdings, a partner- brain dead. This was not an Mr Granville was seriously “The boat captain and rived in Phuket last Friday luxury hotel, the Royal Phuket ship between Mr Granville’s accident. He suffered for four injured. crew jumped into the water (Jan 11) and were to leave Yacht Club at Nai Harn Beach. company British India PLC and a half years,” the family’s Mr McOwen said the only and managed to pull Mr the island last Monday (Jan Mr Granville was arrested and Spanish company Bosca- lawyer Mr McOwen said last injury found was blunt force Koo back to the boat,” Ms 14), officers at the TAC in April 2010 on charges of de- solidos, which had links to Friday. trauma to Mr Granville’s head, Ariya explained. confirmed. ceiving buyers into paying for Spanish football club Atletico Mr McOwen, 50, said Mr with no wounds elsewhere However, Mr Koo was Eakkapop Thongtub homes at the project that were Madrid. Granville’s family suspected on his body. Police ruled it never built. Nineteen buyers The hotel – which contin- foul play, despite the conclu- an accident. Sunscreens hit agenda for saving corals Continued from page 1 als from getting sick easier. It Island”),” Dr Nalinee said. “This supports all people, ...“Oxybenzone in sunscreen is one variable to avoid while “However, harmful activi- tourists and tour operators, to in particular is a concern in trying to nurse coral reefs back ties have affected 80-90% of realise and take correct ac- addressing the health of corals to health,” she added. the corals around all these sites tion to preserve coral reefs,” in Phuket,” Dr Nalinee told Dr Nalinee pointed out that to what we call ‘medium’ to she said. The Phuket News. coral reefs in Phuket province ‘serious’ damage level,” she “Green Fins call on people “Although we have not yet alone – not including the reefs added.

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