Thailand is actively addressing eutrophication and hypoxia in the Upper Gulf of Thailand through the Coastal Zones Under Intensifying Human Activities and Changing Climate: A Regional Programme Integrating Science, Management and Society to Support Ocean Sustainability (COASTAL-SOS).

Thailand has been taking proactive measures to address the severe eutrophication and hypoxia issues plaguing the Upper Gulf of Thailand. As part of the COASTAL-SOS initiative, Thailand is embarking on comprehensive scientific study to examine the Upper Gulf of Thailand’s environmental trajectory over the past 50 years and forecast its future directions for the next 20 years (Fig. 1).

During the 2023 Xiamen World Ocean Week and the International Digital Twins of the Ocean Summit 2023, representatives from Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Pollution Control Department (PCD), and China’s Third Institute of Oceanography (TIO) convened with Prof. Minhan Dai, Chief Scientist of COASTAL-SOS, to discuss a holistic roadmap for the COASTAL-SOS Thailand program under the Thailand-China Joint Laboratory for Climate Change and Environment.

The initial phases of the COASTAL-SOS Thailand program will unfold between 2024 and 2026, laying the groundwork for Phase II (2027-2030). Building upon the ongoing COASTAL-SOS Thailand project under the Marine and Coastal Resources Research & Development Institute (MCRRDI), DMCR is actively evaluating the severity of hypoxia in Thai waters. The discussion prioritized mitigation, restoration, and adaptation strategies.

Dr. Chalermrat Sangmanee, Principal investigator of COASTAL-SOS Thailand, invited Dr. Wilawan Thanatemaneetat, environmentalist of PCD and invited Dr. Liyang Zhan, Deputy Director of TIO and Chinese Principal investigator of subproject “Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia,” to collaborate on future endeavors. The meeting emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer and capacity building, specifically tailored to the Upper Gulf of Thailand. This knowledge will be instrumental in formulating policies and plans that align with sound governance principles, ultimately promoting sustainable management, restoration, and adaptation of marine and coastal resources in the Upper Gulf of Thailand.

Figure 1. Roadmap of the COASTAL-SOS Thailand

Group photo of team members

COASTAL-SOS Thailand team members participating in DITTO Summit 2023

(By Khanittha Uthaipan, Xiamen University)