East Coast of Phuket Island
Location:	7°50'-7°59'N, 98°25'E; extending north and south from the town of Phuket, between Ban Ao Makham in the south and Laem Yabu (Laem Yamu) in the north.
Area:	2,100 ha.
Altitude:	Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:	4.5.1.
Wetland type:	03, 06 & 07.
Description of site:	Two bays fringed with secondary mangrove at either side of a rocky headland with sand beaches, at the base of which lies the town of Phuket. The site encompasses four small offshore islands of which the largest is Ko Maphrao. The northern bay is the more extensive, with at least 350 ha of mudflats; the southern bay includes about 300 ha of mudflats. There is relatively little freshwater run-off into the bays. The salinity varies from 30.0 p.p.t. at the landward edge of the mangroves to 31.0 p.p.t. at the seaward edge and 32.0 p.p.t. on the open mudflats. It varies somewhat with the seasons, being least saline at the end of the rainy season in October or November. The tidal range is 2.9m.
Climatic conditions:	Tropical monsoonal climate with an average annual rainfall of 2,379.3 mm. The wettest month is usually September (average 361.0 mm) and the driest, February (24.9 mm). The relative humidity varies from 81% in October to 68% in February. The prevailing winds are west from May to October and northeast to east from November to April. The average annual temperature is 28.1°C (maximum 33.0°C in April; minimum 23.3°C in January).
Principal vegetation:	Extensive young, regenerating Rhizophora mangroves. Mainly cultivation in adjacent areas, although there are still 2,200 ha of rain forest on the mountain of Khao Phra Thaew (450m) at the northern margin of the site.
Land tenure:	The wetland is state owned; surrounding areas are mainly in private ownership.
Conservation measures taken:	None.
Conservation measures proposed:	Remaining mudflats and mangroves should be protected from reclamation or other developments. Some reseeding of mangroves should be carried out. Recreational facilities, such as observation hides for observing shorebirds and wooden walkway "nature trails" through the mangrove, might be constructed.
Land use:	Fishing and harvesting of crabs. Many boats are beached or moored at the site. Coconut plantations, rubber plantations and housing in surrounding areas.
Possible changes in land use:
Disturbances and threats:	Reclamation of mangrove or mudflat areas for housing or tourist developments may be under consideration. A major deep-sea port is to be constructed in the vicinity of the site. There is increased urbanization in the water catchment area due to the rapid expansion of Phuket township.
Economic and social values:	The site has considerable scientific value, and has been intensively studied by scientists from the Phuket Marine Biological Center. It also has considerable potential for recreation and tourism owing to its proximity to the town of Phuket.
Fauna:	In October 1984, the northern bay supported 670 shorebirds and the southern bay at least 200, the majority of which were Tringa totanus (Parish & Wells, 1985). These numbers are probably an underestimate. Small numbers of herons and egrets are usually present. The mangrove macrofauna includes Polychaetes (25 species, 0.14 grams dry weight/sq.m); gastropod molluscs (27 species, 1.6 grams dry weight/sq.m); pelecypod molluscs (16 species, of which only Musculista senhousia is common, 5.6 grams dry weight/sq.m); and Crustacea (58 species, 3.8 grams dry weight/sq.m). The total primary production of the mangrove is estimated at 2,700 grams dry weight/sq.m/year. The annual production of the mudflats is estimated at 83.2 kcal/sq.m.
Special floral values:	None known.
Research and facilities:	The area is a study site of the Phuket Marine Biological Center. It was surveyed briefly by Interwader in October 1984.
References:	Parish & Wells (1985); Tantichuduk (1982).
Criteria for inclusion:	1b, 2b, 2c.
Source:	Jira Jintanugool and Philip D. Round.