Only six beaches nationwide have earned a five-star rating on the Pollution Control Department’s latest beach quality index.

The PCD’s survey of 233 beaches in 18 provinces, carried out last year, found many beaches have been damaged by pollution and other human activity.

The survey results, released last week, are part of a Chai Had Tid Dow (Star Beach) campaign which aims to promote environmental protection at beaches.

The survey gave five stars to only six beaches, four stars to 56 beaches, three stars to 142 beaches, and two stars to 29 beaches.

The six “premium” beaches are Bi Leh, Koh Rok, Samsao and Ao Kha beaches in Krabi, Lidi beach in Satun, and Tai Muang beach in Phangnga, said Worasart Apaipong, PCD’s deputy chief.

The beach quality rating is based on four major indicators: environmental protection, pollution management, natural resources preservation and tourism management.

Mr Worasart said he was worried about the poor quality of beaches and the toll exacted on them by destructive activities.

“Waste water discharges are the main threat to beaches,” he said.

“In many places, untreated waste water has been released into the sea, leading to poor quality sea water.”

It is also worrying that many beaches have been downgraded from past surveys. The campaign was launched in 2002.

Many famous beaches in Trat, Phuket, Rayong and Chon Buri have been demoted from four stars to three stars because of poor management of tourism and the environment, and degradation of natural resources.

Beaches on Phuket gave cause for most concern, he said.

The department assessed 14 beaches on Phuket and awarded three stars to 13 of them. The other received two stars.

Phuket’s Patong and Rawai beaches were found to have an excessive amount of coliform bacteria in the sea water.

Nai Han beach is flooded with garbage with an average of 2.23 kilogrammes of garbage for each 100 square metres. At Mai Khao beach, a famous sea turtle hatching ground, the garbage problem is little better – 1.7 kilogrammes per square metre.

Mr Worasart said officials will focus on improving the environmental condition of low-rating beaches so they score better in the next survey.

“The local community is the key to fixing beaches. We are devising incentives for coastal communities to work harder in protecting beaches,” he said.

News item Courtesy of www.bangkokpost.com