Press Release: Phuket – Mai Khao Beach & Reef Clean Up

Beach Clean Up

Phuket, Thailand – 15 December 2009 – Recently The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation in conjunction with JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Marriott’s Phuket Beach Club, Marine and Coastal Conservation Center 5 (Phuket), Rajabhat University, Mai Khao District Administration, 5 schools in Mai Khao district have been organized the Beach & Reef clean up as a part of “Turtle Conservation Plan in Mai Khao area”. The Clean Up held on 12 December, started from 8:00am on the beach at Mai Khao village Soi 6 and Soi 8 near the Tsunami Warning Tower.

There were over 180 participants clean up the beach longer than 2 kms. The garbage picked up 270 kgs. The Reef Clean up was conducted by the Sea Bees Diving, Green Fins, Turtle Watch, Marine and Coastal Conservation Center 5 (Phuket) and Royal Navy, Sirinath Nation Park, collected 58 kgs fishing nets from the reef.

The highlight for this event was a competition for students to create posters by using collected garbage. 5 students won the prizes and their posters will be shown at Turtle Awareness Centre in Turtle Village. This is to create awareness and students had an opportunity to express their creativities.

Mr. Robert Lorhmann, Chairman of Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation said that “The foundation aims to create environmental awareness to villagers and students in order to help their own habitats and marine lives. With a kind corporation from everyone can make a difference and help turtles back to Mai Khao Beach again.

For more information on this event, please contact Khun Khemwalai, the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation coordinator, on 086 689 2230 or via mail at info@maikhaoturtlefoundation.com

Opening Speech by Mr. Wirat Makaew, Vice President of Mai Khao Sub-district Administration Organization

Welcoming speech by Mr. Robert Lorhmann, Chairman of Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation

Nets from reef clean up

Students created posters by using garbage for competition

Posters from creativity