Bangkok, Thailand - July 08, 2024

Thailand and China have been engaged in extensive marine conservation cooperation since 2021, contributing to improved biodiversity in the South China Sea, said a Thai official on Monday.

Ukkrit Satapoomin, director of Thailand's Marine Resources Conservation Division at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, shed light on the environmental challenges currently facing the South China Sea and their impact on marine biodiversity in the region.

"I think for the regional seas body we face the same problem. The first is the marine pollution, in particular the land-based pollution, nutrient pollution and also transboundary issues like marine debris. The second thing is habitat degradation from human activity. And the third is climate change impact. I think all of these threats or issues are pronounced," said Satapoomin.

Given the magnitude of these challenges, Satapoomin emphasized the urgent need for a unified management approach in the South China Sea.

"In the past, as we understood what was going wrong in this regional body, that's when we come up with a kind of collaborative effort. One example is the coordination body on the Sea of East Asia that we tried to collaborate the regional efforts to reverse the degradation trend of the South China Sea. For example, the migratory species, like sea turtles or the marine mammals. If one country protects it well, but another country didn't do anything to protect them, that means that the overall population will decline. Without collaborative effort, we cannot solve that kind of problem," said Satapoomin.

Highlighting the fruitful collaboration between China and Thailand, Satapoomin emphasized that science-based approaches have been instrumental in ensuring the health of these waters.

"For Thailand and China, we have good collaboration. Actually, since 2011 Thailand and China established the collaboration on marine [ecology]. This is part of the MOU between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People Republic of China. We came up with a number of the research from the fisheries oceanography, biogeochemistry, and also the biodiversity aspect," said Satapoomin.

He further added that this collaboration has facilitated capacity building for scientists from both countries through knowledge exchange and expertise sharing.

While territorial disputes may exist, Satapoomin highlighted science can serve as a common ground for promoting nature conservation through shared interests and collaborative action, such as expanding protected areas in the region, which can lead to tangible results.

Shotlist:
Bangkok, Thailand - Recent:
FILE: South China Sea, China - Date Unknown
1. Various of sea, bird flying;
Bangkok, Thailand - July 8, 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ukkrit Satapoomin, Director, Thailand's Marine Resources Conservation Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (partially overlaid with shots 3-5):
"I think for the regional seas body we face the same problem. The first is the marine pollution, in particular the land-based pollution, nutrient pollution and also transboundary issues like marine debris. The second thing is habitat degradation from human activity. And the third is climate change impact. I think all of these threats or issues are pronounced.";
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: South China Sea - Date Unknown
3. Fishing net entangled in coral reef;
4. Abandoned equipment on sea surface;
5. Various of fishing net entangled in coral reef
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE];
Sansha City, Hainan Province, south China - Recent
6. Various of seabirds on beach, in sea and flying;
Bangkok, Thailand - July 8, 2024
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ukkrit Satapoomin, Director, Thailand's Marine Resources Conservation Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (partially overlaid with shots 8-11):
"In the past, as we understood what was going wrong in this regional body, that's when we come up with a kind of collaborative effort. One example is the coordination body on the Sea of East Asia that we tried to collaborate the regional efforts to reverse the degradation trend of the South China Sea. For example, the migratory species, like sea turtles or the marine mammals. If one country protects it well, but another country didn't do anything to protect them, that means that the overall population will decline. Without collaborative effort, we cannot solve that kind of problem.";
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Sansha City, Hainan Province, south China - Recent
8. Aerial shots of waves, reefs, sea, seabirds pounding water;
9. Various of terns, other water birds resting on islands, reefs;
FILE: South China Sea, China - Date Unknown
10. Various of animals in sea;
11. Aerial shot of sea
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE];
Sansha City, Hainan Province, south China - Recent
12. Various of sea views, birds flying;
Bangkok, Thailand - July 8, 2024
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Ukkrit Satapoomin, Director, Thailand's Marine Resources Conservation Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (partially overlaid with shot 14):
"For Thailand and China, we have good collaboration. Actually, since 2011 Thailand and China established the collaboration on marine [ecology]. This is part of the MOU between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People Republic of China. We came up with a number of the research from the fisheries oceanography, biogeochemistry, and also the biodiversity aspect."
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE];
14. Reporter listening
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE];
FILE: South China Sea, China - Date Unknown
15. Aerial shots of sea.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]