From Thursday, cigarette smokers who drop cigarette butts on beaches will deal with significant fines and a possible prison term.
Twenty-four beaches will see a cigarette smoking restriction imposed after authorities surveyed beaches in the vacation resort towns of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan and close-by Cha-am in Phetchaburi and discovered 10s of countless cigarette butts buried in the sand.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) revealed the smoking cigarettes restriction in 15 provinces will be a pilot task.
It is set to be gone for other beaches in the future.
Bannarak Sermthong, director of marine and seaside resources workplace 4, monitoring beaches in Phetchaburi, stated garbage gathered from beaches in Cha-am district was primarily disposed of cigarette packs and butts.
The cigarette butts scattered on the beaches were discovered in the sand. Harmful chemicals such as cadmium, lead and arsenic might permeate out of the butts.
The chemicals are hazardous to water animals and the ecology, he stated.
The smoking cigarettes restriction is being provided in a project to safeguard seaside resources with the 24 beaches allocated for the pilot stage of the restriction’s launch.
The restriction was conjured up by means of a marine and seaside resources order which was released in the Royal Gazette on Nov 2 in 2015. The order states offenses from smoking cigarettes in public locations of the beaches and disposing of cigarette butts. Under the order, smoking cigarettes is allowed in designated areas far from the beach.
Wrongdoers are punishable by an optimum prison regard to one year or a fine of as much as 100,000 baht or both. Lawbreakers will be cautioned throughout the early phases of carrying out the restriction, Mr Bannarak stated.
Natwadee Bantiwiwatkul, expert at the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Study and Advancement Centre, the Central Gulf of Thailand, stated onsite studies of beaches in Hua Hin and Khao Takiab beaches in Prachuap Khiri Khan showed up big quantities of disposed of cigarette butts.
The study was carried out in 10 areas on each beach. Each area determines 9sq m and the areas are 200 metres apart. The property surveyors dug 10cm into the sand.
In one area, Ms Natwadee stated 116 cigarette butts were discovered buried under the sand.
Natthawut Phetpromsorn, the Phetchaburi deputy provincial guv, stated more than 100,000 cigarette butts were gathered along the 5.5 km stretch of Cha-am beach.
Signboards have actually been set up along the beach revealing the smoking cigarettes restriction in Thai, Chinese and English. Handouts discussing the restriction will likewise be given out to beachgoers. The restriction will later on reach other beaches in the province, the deputy guv stated.
Fifty smoking cigarettes locations have actually been assigned near the beach. Food stall suppliers have actually been asked to recommend individuals smoking outside allowed areas to put out their cigarettes.
DMCR deputy chief Sophon Thongdee stated the smoking cigarettes restriction was important for the conservation of seaside resources as smoking cigarettes and irresponsibly disposed of cigarette butts positioned a risk to the health of both individuals and water animals.
Pailin Kongpan, deputy mayor of the Hua Hin town, stated the restriction would assist keep the beaches tidy and is excellent news for tourist.
Hotels and lodges were providing the town their cooperation by reserving smoking cigarettes locations for their consumers prior to they step on to the beaches.
The beaches are Hat Chuen Restriction in Trat; Hat Laem Sadet in Chanthaburi; Hat Saeng Chan in Rayong; Hat Bang Saen, Hat Tham Phung, Hat Sai Kaew, Hat Dong Tan and Pattaya beach in Chon Buri; Hat Cha-am in Phetchaburi; Hat Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan; Hat Sairee in Chumphon; Hat Bo Phut in Koh Samui district, Hat Chalok Restriction Kao and Hat Koh Tao in Koh Phangan district of Surat Thani; Hat Plai Sai in Nakhon Si Thammarat; Hat Chala That in Songkhla; Hat Wasukri in Pattani; Hat Patong in Phuket; Hat Koh Kai Nok and Hat Koh Khai Nai in Phangnga; Hat Phra Ae, Hat Khlong Dao and Hat Kor Kwang in Krabi; and Hat Chao Samran in Trang.
