Trang Marine National Park Innovation Institute chief, Songtham Suksawang, said the department has banned feeding monkeys at Khao Yai National Park and is now extending bans to include feeding fish at marine parks.
“The ban has been introduced at the Surin and Similan islands to prevent visitors from disturbing the feeding chain.”
Dive or snorkelling tours often include feeding fish as a photo opportunity, but officials claim fish behaviour along reefs line has changed dramatically as a result.
“[The fish] gather at specific feeding spots waiting for divers to arrive and feed them. Some of them especially Pomacentridae [including the black-and-yellow-striped Sergeant Major fish] are more aggressive and chase other fish away, which will impact on the marine food chain,” Dr Songtham warned.