Dear all,


At the moment in Bangkok there is an increasing market in the sales of certain species of saltwater shrimps for the aquarium trade. The main three species of shrimps that are being sold are camel shrimps, banded boxer (cleaner) shrimps and harlequin shrimps. Not much is known about current numbers and habitat of any of those shrimps in Thai waters and it is also unclear if any of those shrimp species are under threat from over-exploitation.

None of the shrimp species are currently protected under Thai Law.

I have been asked by the Phuket Marine Biological Centre to assist in gathering information about numbers and habitat of the above mentioned shrimps at our local dive sites to get a better idea of the vulnerability of those shrimps from (over-) harvesting.

Information about numbers and habitat of those shrimps may help Marine Biologists to press for future protection of shrimps under Thai Law.

I would like to invite all active Divemasters and Instructors working on daytrip and Live aboard boats to join in this effort and gather as much information of those animals at as many dive sites as possible. This is an ongoing project for at least the next 6 months and the same dive site can be done many times to get the most accurate information.

Of course certain criteria must be followed to get a clear idea of population and habitat and therefore all participating divers should use the following outline:


EXAMPLE:



Date:
Area
Site
Time
Depth
Number
Habitat
Approx. total distance covered during dive
Remarks

Banded boxer shrimp
Racha Yai
Staghorn Reef
10:00-11:00 AM
12 meter
4
Under coral head
Approx. 200 meter


Camel shrimp
Racha Yai
Homerun
13:00-14:00 PM
18 meter
12
In rocky crevice
Approx. 150 meter


Harlequin shrimp

Sharkpoint
11:30-12:30 PM
20 meter
2
On bottom next to fan
Approx. 100 meter
Feeding on red starfish




Use of an underwater slate is highly recommended.


For identification purposes I have send a second message with a picture of all three species of shrimp.

Please send your gathered information with your name and contact details to either 1 of the following email addresses: hans@fantasea.net or bowmouth8@hotmail.com with in your subject column the word SHRIMPS.



Please feel free to make your own lay-out to record your sightings providing you use all the above mentioned criteria.

If you keep a paper record you can send it to the following address:



Hans Tibboel

C/o Fantasea Divers

43/20 Moo 5,

Viset Road, Rawai,

Amphur Muang,

Phuket 83130



Your help is much appreciated!

Hans Tibboel,
Environment,
Sub-Committee
Dive Operators Club of Thailand (DOCT)
Phuket Chapter