The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) has warned of the potential danger of a plankton bloom in the upper Gulf of Thailand.
GISTDA said images from Sentinel-2B taken on October 2 show large amounts of brownish sediment flowing from the Mae Klong, Tha Chin, Chao Phraya and Bang Pakong rivers into the Gulf of Thailand.
The sediment carries not only mud but also large amounts of nutrients, including fertilisers used in agriculture and wastewater from households. When these nutrients are washed into the sea, they can trigger a chemical reaction that leads to a plankton bloom, potentially causing a chain of impacts, including an oxygen crisis in the water.
Plankton can grow rapidly and die quickly, with their decomposition consuming oxygen in the sea and resulting in hypoxia, GISTDA said.
It added that the resulting deterioration of the coastal ecosystem could further reduce oxygen levels in the sea, posing a serious threat to marine organisms living on the sea floor and the fishing industry.
GISTDA said the information serves as an early warning for all sectors to remain vigilant, conduct planning and analysis, and warn farmers operating coastal fish and shrimp farms.
For the public sector, the situation is a reminder that activities on land can have direct impacts on the sea and coastal areas. Greater awareness of the links between ecosystems will help promote cooperation in sustainable environmental management, GISTDA said.
