The Phuket Fisheries Office has provided an explanation that the darker sea water around Patong beach in Phuket was caused by a plankton bloom. The authorities do not anticipate that the phenomena would have an effect on tourism.
The declaration was made after images on social media depicting murky black water streaming from the beach were made public. Tourists were warned not to go into the water along a stretch of beach in the Patong area because the ocean water had turned a dark color from the mouth of the Pak Bang canal to a certain point along the beach.
Patong beach was inspected by Sitthipol Muangsong, who is the head of the Phuket Fisheries Office. Members of the press accompanied him on the tour. After closer examination, he determined that the phenomenon in question was a plankton bloom, which is a normal occurrence that happens once a year. The phenomena is responsible for turning the ocean’s water brown, red, green, or even a murky black color.
Sitthipol noted that the color is indicative of high plankton populations in the water, which matches to the color.
He went on to say that the flowering typically takes place during the summer months as a result of shifts in the patterns of the wind or the tides, and that it is fleeting in nature. In addition, he mentioned that the Phuket Fisheries Office will consult with the Phuket Marine Biological Center in order to have samples of the ocean water taken from the beach in order to conduct tests on them.
The samples are going to be tested in order to evaluate the quality of the water so that both the residents and the tourists may relax.
