Thailand sees improvement in marine environment protection (Photo: thethaiger.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment hasreleased a report on the marine environment situation in 24 coastal provincesof the country in 2022 compared to 2021, which said the country hasseen improvement in marine environment protection.
Throughout 2022,there were reports of 22 oil spill events within the Gulf ofThailand, and an astonishing 507 tonnes of various waste gathered fromsurrounding seas.
The reportcategorised the purity of seawater, concluding that just 7% of the sampletested was indeed in a very clean state, water cleanliness was rated at 57%,moderate cleanliness at 30%, with the remaining 6% identified as polluted.
The crisis of oil leaks noted in the year prior primarily struck in the regioncovering Rayong and its adjacent Chon Buri - a hub for abundant industrialplants and bustling locations for tourism-related activities.
Distressingly, 168 out of the 659 marine creatures found beached had lost theirlives due to impacts associated with plastics like ingestion or entanglement infloating trash.
Coastal erosionhas also been a significant concern for Thailand’s environmental stability. Outof the lengthy 3,151 kilometres of the country’s coastline, 823 kilometressuffered from erosion. However, 753 kilometres of the eroded coastline nowrepaired through efforts such as the construction of barriers and sand fences.
The report said the presence of 273 dugongs and 2,310 dolphins and whaleswithin the Thai seas. Steps towards protecting the native marine species wereseen, with reports of sea turtles laying eggs in 604 nests./.
