| Project Detail |
In Thailand, it is estimated that approximately 280,000 tons of plastic waste is discharged into the ocean through rivers and other channels annually due to lack of proper waste management. Marine plastic waste is feared to cause damage to the marine environment, including ecosystems, obstruction to vessel navigation, adverse effects on tourism and fisheries, and deterioration of coastal residential environments. However, there are many facts that remain unclarified, such as the pathways and distribution of the discharge, the amount of plastics present in the ocean, and the impact of plastics on the marine environment. This cooperation involves the establishment of an academic center of excellence (COE) for marine plastics, which will make policy recommendations to government agencies based on the results of a survey on the amount of plastics in the Samae San area, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, Thailand. Through these activities, the COE will establish a sustainable monitoring and management framework for marine plastics in Southeast Asian waters, and contribute to the provision of concrete measures to reduce marine plastics. |
