Saturday the 12. of December was the Beach and Reef Clean up day at Mai Khao Beach in the north west of Phuket. Children from 5 schools from the Phuket area, Representatives and divers from the Marine and Costal Resources Conservation Center, the Marriott Group, Turtle Watch, Green Fins and Sea Bees, a total of approximately 130 people gathered to help clean the beach area and the reef in front of the Mai Khao Beach. At specific times during the yearthis beach is frequented by marine turtles, which are coming ashore to leave their eggs in the sand. Therefore the Mai Khao Beach has special importance for the environemnt and marine live. Mai Khao Turtle foundation was the organisor and initiator of this clean up, to protect the turtles from fishing nets and waste in the waters and on the beach of Mai Khao.

The cleanup was a great success and 57.9 kg of fishing nets and rubbish was found around the reef and 270 kg on the beach. Next to this immediate benefit for the Mai Khao Bay, the kids learned a lot about the necessity of protecting the environment and helping to keep the reefs and beaches healthy. Here are some pictures of the event.