ASEAN navies cooperate to protect marine environment

11/21/2017 - 2:57:55 PM

The 11th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM-11) opened in Pattaya city, Thailand, on November 19, themed "Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment.”

ASEAN navy chiefs at the 11th ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting in Pattaya, Thailand. (Credit: qdnd.vn)

Opening the event, Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Navy Admiral Naris Pratoomsuwan said that the ANCM-11 is an important forum for ASEAN navies to exchange viewpoints, discuss different issues, seek cooperation opportunities, and explore common interests.

ASEAN navies need to reach a mutual understanding through diverse activities in order to increase their coordination capability, and protect and preserve the marine environment, which is an important issue, he added.

In his speech, Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam said that the marine environment is currently facing non-traditional challenges. Four major challenges to the marine environment are pollution from the mainland and the sea, the destruction of marine species’ natural habitat, illegal fishing and overfishing, as well as climate change impacts, such as natural disasters, storms and floods.

He said that it is necessary to exploit and use marine resources in an effective, reasonable and economical manner. Meanwhile, regional countries need to minimise illegal and destructive fishing, address the pollution and degradation of the marine environment and prevent pollution.

Nam also called on the ASEAN countries to build marine reserves and climate change-adapted infrastructure, while stepping up the monitoring of the marine environment to gather scientific information for the sustainable use and protection of marine resources.

Stressing the importance of international cooperation in marine environmental protection and preservation, Rear Admiral Nam expressed his hope that the ASEAN navies would have more effective cooperation in this field.

The ANCM-11 is among a series of navy-related events being held in Pattaya from November 13 to 22. Other activities include the ASEAN International Fleet Reviews 2017 (IFR 2017) and the first ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise (AMNEX-1). Vietnam’s naval ship 012-Ly Thai To has participated in all activities of the IFR 2017 and AMNEX-1.

Source: NDO

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