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voici un lien intéressant suite à 2 posts sur le forum Thailande, posts que je me permets de recopier ici:

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanchissement_des_coraux

2ème et dernier post:

Diving sites to be closed for a month
By The Nation

More than a dozen diving sites in seven national marine parks will be closed today for at least a month as authorities seek ways to arrest coral bleaching, leaving many southern tourism operators fuming.
"We will give the coral reefs time to recover naturally," Sunan Arunnopparat, directorgeneral of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said yesterday.
More than 80 per cent of the coral in the areas were suffering from bleaching, he said, adding that the suspension of diving activities was introduced in consultation with academics.
The places to be made offlimits to visitors include Chuak Island of Chao Mai Beach National Park in Trang; Bulone Mai Pai and Bulone Rang Pheung Islands of Petra Islands National Park in Satun; Takiang Island, Hin Ngam Island, Rawi Island, Sai Khao Beach and Dong Island of Tarutao National Park in Satun; and Maphrao Island of Chumphon Islands National Park.
In Phang Nga, the sites are Hin Klang of Nopparat TharaPhi Phi Islands National Park; Suthep Bay, Mai Ngam Bay, Stork Island, Hin Kong and Pakkad Bay of Surin Islands National Park (coralreef area in front of the national park office); and Fai Wap Bay and Eve of Eden of Similan Islands National Park.
Sunan said the whitening is caused by various factors such as El Nino, chemicals, changes in coastal conditions and disruptive human activities.
"Coral reefs can recover from bleaching if the sea conditions turn fine. We should suspend diving activities to reduce pollution," he said.
The department would also adopt other measures such as limiting admissions to national parks and campaigning to make tourists more conscious of the environment.
Tourism operators in the South voiced opposition to the department's latest move.
Torpong Wongsathienchai, whose company offers diving tours to Similan Islands and Surin Islands in Phang Nga, said authorities were not aiming at the root problem.
"The move will hardly be useful. In fact, national marine parks have been closed to tourists for about six months out of the year all along," he said.
Authorities should implement strict measures to reduce oil spills from boats and promote environmentallyresponsible tourism, he said.
"When you close diving sites, you must think about the whole impact on the tourism industry. What about hotel operators? Will they get any guests?" he said.
If the hotel business was depressed, employees would face dire consequences too, he added.
Thawat Niranartwarodom, owner of the Bayfront Khao Lak Resort and Spa, said most travellers came to the Andaman Sea because they want to explore the marvellous snorkelling attractions.
"When we sell them tour packages, we show them our beautiful seas and islands. What will they say if they find they can't visit the places being advertised?" he asked.
Authorities should educate tour guides on how best to protect the environment instead of slapping a blanket ban on prime diving destinations, he added.

1er post:

"The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is seeking the closure of two diving paradises, the Similan and Surin national parks after the coral there was found suffering from bleaching.
The scope of the corals destroyed from the bleaching has been wide and unless proper measures are issued, more coral would be destroyed by the phenomenon, said department director general Kasemssan Jinnawaso on Monday.
"The damage found on the coral for now is vast, probably the worst in history and certainly more than when The tsunami hit this area in 2004. The species affected are the Staghorn, Ring, Double Star and Mountain coral," Kasemsan said.
His department has already submitted a request to the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department to close parts of Similan and Surin National Parks to prevent any further damage to the coral.
A cause of the coral bleaching is the rising temperature of the sea water, which has reached 30 Celsius since the middle of last year, he said, adding that waste and pollution from diving boats are also contributing to the phenomenon.
"Many divers are also contributing to the damage as they step on the coral," he said.
Surveys of the sites between September and December 2010 showed that 93.6 per cent of the coral at Surin Nua Island had died from the bleaching while almost 100 per cent of the reef near Mae Yai Bay had died.
Referring to Phi Phi, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh islands, Kasemsan said the coral there was also damaged by bleaching in vast areas, probably about 90 per cent of the reef.