BANGKOK, Oct 8 (TNA) – Chulalongkorn University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) set up a research center to tackle ocean waste in Thailand and the South China Sea.
Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and Japan’s Pollution Control Department launched the collaborative project to conduct a research on ocean plastic waste and set up a research center at Chulalongkorn University in a bid to fight microplastic pollution in the sea.
Head of the Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Assoc. Prof. Waranop Wiyakarn said that Thai and Japan researchers will survey and do research on plastic garbage in Thai and South China Sea under the five-year project.
The Japanese government will support research equipment.
The project will look into the source of plastic garbage and its movement and the results will be used to give recommendation on plastic waste management to state agencies and the public.
Thais have reduced the use of single-use plastic bags. According to a survey in 2019, on average, Thais use 1-2 bags each per day, decreased from 8 bags each per day. (TNA)