Ocean for Life Marine life is very important. In the past, it has been greatly affected by the problem of marine plastic waste, as well as the degradation of marine and coastal resources.
According to the latest research abroad, during Covid, human activities related to the sea have clearly decreased, including transportation, tourism, and the use of various resources, allowing nature to recover. It can be said that amidst the lockdown of people, the sea and ocean have used this time to recover gradually. This confirms that humans are the accelerators that cause problems.
We spoke to an ocean enthusiast who is driving the Sustainable Development Goal, Life below water, or SDG 14, for an update on this situation.
- Ms. Natharee Kositapai, Deputy Managing Director, Strategy and Business Development Group, PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sopharat Charusombat, Coordinator of the Knowledge Project to Drive National Marine Policy to Thammasat University
- Mr. Alex Rendell, a young actor who has become a Co-founder & CEO, Environment Education Center Thailand
The sea crisis reflects the problem of garbage from land.
Dr. Sopharat shared her academic perspective that before the COVID situation, the sea was quite critical. This can be seen from the problem of marine plastic waste, the degradation of marine and coastal resources, the overuse of resources, and the loss of marine biodiversity. The reason is that the sea is an important resource, so these crises have been discussed all the time. During COVID, in addition to the existing garbage problem, there is also an image of more and more garbage entering the ecosystem, which cannot be fully managed. She pointed out that COVID has shown us a picture of various marine activities that are linked to human activities on land that have a huge impact on the sea. When we stop our land activities or do good activities, the sea can recover better. There are figures confirming that the amount of garbage in the sea actually comes from land. Therefore, if we try to manage our activities, it will help reduce problems at the end of the sea.
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited confirms that the sea has recovered during COVID-19.
On the PTT Exploration and Production side, which has been in the petroleum exploration and production business for over 35 years, Ms. Natharee shared information from PTT Exploration and Production’s work sites, where most of its operations are in the sea, both domestically and internationally, that marine environmental issues are continually increasing, emphasizing that
“The sea is a natural resource and an important ecosystem for human life and other living things. During the COVID situation throughout the past year, the Thai sea has clearly rested and recovered. It is something that can be seen and felt.”
For example, whale sharks and dolphins are found in larger pods, sea grass and coral reefs are more abundant and diverse, and beaches and seawater quality are cleaner than ever before. PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) is committed to being a leader in the conservation and restoration of natural resources and marine ecosystems by using knowledge and technology to support economic growth and a better quality of life for coastal communities under the Ocean for Life strategy to support tangible marine natural resource conservation efforts. Two long-term goals in 2030 are to create positive value for biodiversity and marine ecosystem services in offshore operations, and to increase community income and increase the number of conservation networks.
Ocean for Life Operation
Ms. Natharee talked about PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited’s work and collaboration with many agencies through project and activity operations, including the development of related knowledge for maximum benefit to marine sustainability, such as considering the clean and environmentally friendly production process (Clean and Friendly Operation).
PTTEP has applied technology to minimize the negative impacts from petroleum exploration and production, such as using autonomous underwater vehicles to inspect and maintain underwater equipment to reduce the risk of spills and leaks into the environment, and monitoring ocean health and biodiversity (Ocean Health and Biodiversity Monitoring) in collaboration with various agencies such as the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and Kasetsart University to support marine science operations for the conservation and restoration of natural resources and ecosystems, such as:
- A project to study microplastics in offshore areas of the Gulf of Thailand , using the advantages of offshore operating areas to collect microplastic sample data to support the development of national impact prevention plans and measures to combat marine litter.
- Underwater camera installation project in the production platform legs, piloting in the Sun platform area, to monitor and compile data on marine biodiversity, so that researchers can access and utilize the data for further research.
- The project to develop coastal ecosystem and activity surveys using drones and advanced technology to survey coastal aquaculture areas and the health of coral reefs. The obtained data will be analyzed and maps/guidelines for the use and conservation of marine resources will be created.
This includes implementing projects to restore, care for, and conserve the sea in a tangible way (Ramp up CSR around Ocean) in cooperation with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources through various projects, such as the Economic Aquatic Animal Hatchery Learning Center Project, which has expanded from the Blue Swimming Crab Hatchery Learning Project to increase aquatic animal resources and release them back into the sea, in order to cover the promotion and conservation of aquatic animal species that are diverse and different in each area. Currently, centers have been established in Songkhla, Pattani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces, and the goal is to expand to 17 provinces around the Gulf of Thailand by 2030.
Educate the new generation to care for the environment.
Alex, a familiar actor, shared the working principles of EEC, which believes that providing knowledge is “solving problems at the root cause, and providing knowledge will change people’s minds, making them want to protect, care for, and be the love that humans have for nature.”
Finally, there will be conservation and admiration for the work of marine experts or researchers because they have seen their sacrifices that ordinary city people do not see. I think that the duty of the EEC is to try to use the available media to present stories and information to create awareness in society. I personally believe that actors or anyone who is a member of society has a part in shaping the way society thinks. Therefore, if any communication can have a significant impact on society, they must take responsibility for this and try to use this to their fullest potential. I would like to invite you to compare 5-6 years ago with today, when people in society have developed their interest in the environment quite far. Many organizations, such as PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited, have raised the level of importance on the environment until it became part of mass media without realizing it. At first, it was very difficult to see environmental issues on the front page of newspapers or on social media feeds, but now it is everywhere. This is the result of the drive of both the government sector, the private sector, and society, which also gives importance. It is not just a hobby or volunteerism, but has become a passion, especially for the new generation. It is not a trend that will one day decrease. Today, sustainability has become a KPI for the next century that must be measured at all levels.
Driving the Blue Economy
In addition to the operations of the private and social sectors, Dr. Sopharat provided information on the concept of Blue Economy, which aims to drive marine sustainability, with a knowledge platform that connects stakeholders from all sectors to participate in the work, which uses the academic project to present various issues to those with decision-making power or policy makers (Policy Maker) and to create awareness in society.
Sharing that as a professor, I am at the center of all sectors, connecting academics and policy makers. I see that the sea is now a topic that is being brought up in teaching quite a bit, for example, the children presented Alex’s project and knew about PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited’s work because it has a background in the environment. There is a lot of research under the Blue Economy, such as the development of Ocean Account, which is looking at what marine resources are like. If there are various marine activities such as tourism, energy, transportation, and another 7-8 activities that affect marine diversity and ecosystems, how can these activities be sustainable?
Another important issue is the challenge of taking care of the sea, which is Transboundary , not just the sea in Thailand, but considering from upstream, midstream, to downstream. In looking at the picture, policy makers must understand the connections and driving policies. They must know where the world has come. It is an effort to drive with policy makers how to benefit or use the opportunity to take care of natural resources and the environment under the international convention Untied Nation Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that must answer the question of how to benefit from the marine economic zone.
Cooperation of people who love the sea
At this point, Ms. Natrudee shared information about the collaboration that in 2020, PTTEP signed two MOUs, the first with Kasetsart University and the second with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, to promote and conserve the sustainability of marine ecosystems and economic societies, including building partnerships with conservation networks in target areas to support various activities and expand to the wider society. In addition, Ms. Natrudee also pointed out the importance of the collaboration, which will help create opportunities to increase the company’s capabilities in implementing marine conservation projects in a broader dimension.
Including the development of knowledge in technology, the application of innovation to the conservation and restoration of marine resources to produce tangible results, especially artificial intelligence and robot technology. Because the main problem in the management of the sea and oceans, both internationally and nationally, is the incompleteness of various oceanographic data or out-of-date data, especially data in offshore areas. PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited has most of its operating units located offshore in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. Therefore, it is believed that the advantages in location, technological readiness, and the ability to coordinate with various agencies will make a difference in pushing PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited to become a marine conservation guardian to create sustainability for the ocean. It is emphasized that the management of marine issues is a great challenge because the sea is a large area, related to the ecosystem and the lifestyle of diverse living things. The resulting impacts can cause widespread damage to other areas very quickly. Therefore, solving the problem must be integrated in all dimensions, with cooperation from all sectors, not just one organization.
Inviting all sectors to join as partners to return life to the sea.
Dr. Soparat pointed out that for the country to benefit from development, it must work together. The important thing is to make the government sector see its importance so that this can actually happen, both in terms of providing knowledge and creating a new generation, which is very important. From the experience of organizing the seminar, it was found that there are few Thai marine academics. Therefore, it is necessary to create more new generations. The important mechanism to drive this issue is partnership, especially with the private sector, which has high opportunities in terms of technology and finance. Therefore, the government sector must be promoted to work with the private sector and communities.
He also pointed out that the important things that the government should do in the future are new financial instruments, new business models, such as in foreign countries, there are Blue Bonds to help SMEs or small companies to be able to develop and grow, including educational institutions in the area. They must play a more important role in supporting knowledge to local communities and supporting activities of the new generation to be more tangible. After COVID, it is believed that many new generations will have to return to their hometowns because job opportunities in the city may be reduced. How can we make the new generation return to work in new jobs in the area and be able to survive, especially those who have to work with the grassroots economy, where the sea is an important source for developing and creating many more jobs?
Environmental studies, learning that starts from kindergarten
In this regard, Mr. Alex shared his personal view that the best point and solution to the problem is that there should be a policy for every school to study environmental education, starting from kindergarten level, gradually increasing to university level, in order to instill this in the next generation of children in their daily lives. Caring for natural resources should be a part of children in the long term.
In the future, EEC will develop its work and various curricula to reach out to more students. Currently, most of the children who come to EEC camps are children who live in Bangkok, in the city, or in international schools. The focus is on expanding the results to give them more opportunities to meet local people because they see that local people will truly perform their conservation duties because this is their home.
Therefore, creating a process for local people is quite important. When going to the South, it is clear that SDG 14 is very important. In the camp, we will try to teach more SDGs to show that each issue is interconnected, not just in theory but can be seen in practice. Because if marine resources are truly incomplete, the villagers will be greatly affected. Coral will lead to the economy, lead to tourism, and 80% of our economy is ecotourism, which is of great value to the livelihood of the whole country. Therefore, taking care of SDG 14 will affect many other SDGs. As someone working in the EEC who is trying to drive this issue, I will try to communicate and create as much change as possible.
Hope for the Thai Sea: Creating a new generation of people who love the sea
At the end, Dr. Sopharat left hope for the new generation and emphasized that providing information that can visualize the changes will be a challenge that will make the new generation feel more alert and interested in learning about these things and create awareness that even though it is a big problem, we can all create change because everything starts with ourselves. When given the opportunity to think and do tangible activities, the new generation wants to do it. Working through the media will be one thing that will help the new generation access and follow the activities easily.
Mr. Alex added that nowadays, studying about the environment has become very important and there are more opportunities for society to support it than before. For example, many organizations that do environmental work are part of CSR and now they have expanded to sustainability. Many organizations have departments to take care of sustainability, including sustainability, sustainable finance, sustainable life, family, employees, and consumption. Therefore, this should be the reason why the new generation dreams of working in this field, which is not a hobby or volunteering, but a real job where they have the opportunity to work seriously every day. The executives of large organizations like Ms. Natharee have accepted and opened up the opportunity that PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited is willing to provide information and cooperation, both in research and social activities, with Ocean for Life as the main theme. She also emphasized that PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited is ready to work with all sectors to jointly drive this issue forward.
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“We Shift…World Change” program
Episode: “Love the Sea, Protect the Sources of Resources”
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