Tourism threats to Coral Reef Resilience at Koh Sak, Pattaya Bay

Abstract

Coral reefs provide many ecosystem goods and services and rising atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are resulting in higher than normal sea surface temperatures (SSTs), increasing the frequency and extent of mass coral bleaching and mortality. The loss of corals after bleaching events is often followed by changes in the reef community and the proliferation of macroalgae, especially in reefs experiencing tourism and fishing. This change, however, is less likely in reefs experiencing fewer negative impacts. Using a mixed methods approach to data collection we used boat-traffic surveys, coral reef substrate surveys and self-complete questionnaires and interviews of scuba divers, island visitors and their tour guides to assess potential tourism impacts to the coral reef at Koh Sak, Pattaya. The number of tourists, the intensity of boat traffic and poor management of activities at the island impair the structural and ecological integrity of the reef thereby affecting its ecological and spatial resilience and capacity to survive global climate change. To improve reef resilience, there needs to be a shift from exploitative business practices to a conservation-based industry that creates the infrastructure to ensure visitors participate in activities that help conserve the reef rather than weaken it.