Marine and coastal areas

Ocean plastic pollution is threatening humanity and Thailand cannot escape the blame as one of the world’s worst marine polluters. Although the government has pledged to tackle marine pollution, one thing is certain. Success is out of reach if the state authorities fail to engage ...

Today, on World Oceans Day, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and partners are launching an e-learning course to help reduce the impact of plastic pollution. As part of the Closing the Loop project, the course, entitled Cities ...

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered officials to be diligent in solving the kingdom’s rubbish problem after acknowledging that about 40% of waste went into the ocean last year, according to Traisuree Taisaranakul, deputy government spokeswoman.The prime minister yesterday voiced his concerns after being briefed ...

The Pattaya Marine Office is laying chains of buoys in Pattaya Bay to clearly differentiate areas for water traffic and other activities, to improve marine safety and build tourist confidence.The plan has been dubbed the Pattaya Model for safety at sea. Work began in 2015 ...

Jomtien Beach in Pattaya is being widened under a Bt1.1-billion project to replenish a vast expanse of sand eroded over the years by the sea.The Marine Department aims to expand around 7 kilometres of beach to a width of 35-50 metres in order to preserve ...

Memories of idyllic beaches and sonorous waves may seem far away while we all remain under lockdown at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, we need not look far to appreciate the enduring history of the ocean in Asia and the Pacific. For generations, ...

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will use a “preliminary environmental checklist” to review proposals about the construction of seawalls to prevent coastal erosion.The checklist will be designed in such a way that clearly outlines major environmental concerns which applicants need to address in ...

Vowing to achieve its goal of eliminating at least 50% of marine debris by 2027 through the principle of the circular economy at the recent 2019 Asean Summit, Thailand was ranked as the world’s sixth largest contributor to marine debris, and fourth in Asean.Keep reading ...

Bangkok declaration by ministers today to focus on cooperative efforts and measures in the region to tackle this serious environmental threat.ASEAN member countries will sign the Bangkok Declaration to jointly combat the pervasive marine plastic debris problem in the region.Keep reading ...

Starting this month, the tiny and stunningly scenic Maya Bay off Thailand’s Andaman coast, made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film The Beach, is closed to visitors. Two decades of being Thailand’s top tourist attraction has overwhelmed the island’s ecology.Keep reading ...