Chapter 1 : ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL OCEAN INSTITUTE IN THAILAND

Dr. Cherdsak Virapat,  Executive Director, International Ocean Institute Headquarters 

In 1999, Dr. Gunnar Kullenberg, Executive Director of the International Ocean Institute (IOI) visited my office at Fishery Engineering Division, Department of Fisheries (DOF) to discuss possibility to set up an operational centre of IOI in Thailand. This visit was a few months after I had graduated from the IOI Canada Training Course on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Its Agenda 21 in July 1999. Later, I introduced Dr. Kullenberg to Dr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, Director-General of the Royal Forest Department (RFD) and Director-General of the Office of the Thai Marine Policy and Restoration Committee (OTMPRC). In recognition of the IOI vision, Dr. Suraswadi acknowledged an important role of IOI to promote governance and sustainable management of the Thai seas. Later on in 2000, the Committee on the Thai Marine Policy and Restoration approved the establishment of IOI Thailand Operational Centre under the OTMPRC to advise the Thai government in dealing with ocean-related issues by providing academic support including training projects, information services, conferences, research and publications.

The MOU between the OTMPRC and IOI was signed in November 2000 on the establishment of the IOI Thailand Operational Centre with the Advisory Committee whose members were principally from recognized academic institutions in Thailand. I was appointed the first Director of the institute. IOI Thailand’s office was initially located in the premises of the Department of Fisheries in Kasetsart University campus. The ceremony of the establishment was taken at the Conference Room of H.A. Slade Building, Royal Forest Department where Prof. Elisabeth Mann Borgese delivered her message in supporting the IOI activities in Thailand focused on maritime security in the Southeast Asian Region. In 2002, the new department, namely; Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) was established and the OTMPRC was moved to the new office at DMCR under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) where the IOI Thailand office was relocated at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of MNRE.

In the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, a new MOU between Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) and IOI was signed in June 2006 to carry out training and research on interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral areas in marine affairs which also covered national and regional multi-hazards disaster early warning systems, community awareness and resilience, and community and school-based adaptive learning. The IOI mission in Thailand was well recognized especially on support of community-based adaptive learning in disaster management for awareness and resilience carried out by NDWC and interagency departments in six Andaman coastal provinces of Thailand, the Women/Youth and the Sea Programs as well as activities to promote World Ocean Day by organizing artwork contests for school children under the theme of relevant Thai Seas conservation and global warming topics from 2006 to 2009. It is clearly seen that IOI Thailand has assisted the Thai Government in the issues concerning the ocean especially in public awareness and integration of all ocean knowledge with participations of interagency departments, women, youths and coastal communities working on ocean issues. 

Later in November 2009, a new MOU between Foundation of National Disaster Warning Council (FNDWC) and IOI was signed and valid for five years from 2009-2014. The renewal of the MOU are to address the inter-sectoral aspects of marine affairs and the need for integration and co-ordination among the sectors; the need for the harmonization of national instruments, and existing international agreements, inter alia UNCLOS and Agenda 21 of UNCED 1992; and IOI-Thailand will continue to carry out training, research, and other activities including Exclusive Economic Zone and coastal community management, and development of related resources for the sustainable livelihoods of those residing in coastal areas; fisheries and coastal aquaculture management; sustainable development of seabed resources; Islands resources development and protection; management of ports and harbors, and sustainable development of large coastal urban centers; marine pollution abatement, prevention, and control; advancement of marine science and technology and related training; development of national marine related legislation and marine policy and building of national infrastructure; national and regional multi-hazards disaster early warning systems, shoreline change and erosion, sea level rise due to impacts of climate change, community awareness and resilience, and community and school-based adaptive management; marine and other related forms of eco-tourism; and regional and international co-operation and co-ordination. This will eventually promote role of Thailand in the South-East Asian Region with respect to the promotion and development of marine resources as well as proper protection of the coastal and marine environment and the leading role of Thailand in the management of marine and coastal resources for sustainable development based on good governance, integrated maritime policy and coastal community based participatory approaches. 

During the last 15 years, IOI-Thailand has been actively involved in organization of the World Ocean Day awareness campaign activities on an annual basis. In 2011, IOI-Thailand published children artwork album entitled “Thai Seas and Global Warming: Narrative School Children’s Artworks” to promote awareness & understanding and mitigation & management of the impacts of climate change among 2,000 school children around Thailand. The album received a message from Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali. This children’s artwork inspires IOI to continue the mission of its founder, Prof. Elisabeth Mann Borgese, to whose memory this book is dedicated, to integrate education and capacity building in all its activities. Since its establishment in 2000, IOI-Thailand has generated and provided financial support to create 20 Thai future leaders in ocean governance for Thailand.

In addition, IOI-Thailand organized various workshops, seminars, and conferences. These include Expert Consultation Workshop on Thai Marine Policy and Strategy in collaboration with Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Koh Chang, Trad in 2003; Assessment of National Capacity in Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation Systems in the Aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in collaboration with Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC), Office of Prime Minister in Bangkok in 2005; Workshop on Ocean Governance and Sustainable Management prior to the World Ocean Conference in Manado, Indonesia in May 2009, Bangkok, Thailand; Expert Consultation Workshop on Shoreline Change and Erosion Management, 1-2 December 2009 in Bangkok; Expert Consultation on Effects of Distance Large Earthquakes on Infrastructure in Bangkok in collaboration with Association of Natural Disaster Prevention Industry (ANDPI), Bangkok Metropolitan Agency (BMA), Foundation of National Disaster Warning Council (FNDWC); National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC), Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in July 2011; Workshop on Oil Spill Risk in Thailand in collaboration with Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University and ESSO Thailand Public Company Limited, 5 April 2013 in Bangkok and the Pacem in Maribus International Forum on Sustainable Governance of the Ocean in collaboration with ANDPI, Office of National Water and Flood Management Policy (ONWF), Office of the Prime Minister, DMCR, DOF, NDWC, and Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC), 3-8 September 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. 

In the near future, IOI-Thailand, IOI Headquarters and its partners in collaboration with DMCR, DOF and interagency departments in Thailand will support many more Thai Government officials for attending IOI training and education programmes as well as to plan to organize the IOI/DMCR Training Programme in Ocean Governance for the Asia-Pacific Region and the IOI/DOF/NACA/SEAFDEC/FAO Training Programme in Fisheries and Aquaculture Governance for the Asia-Pacific Region. 

I strongly believe that the establishment of IOI in Thailand and implementation on its mission can significantly promote ocean governance and conservation for the benefit of people of Thailand and their future generations.

Chapter 2 : KEY ACTIVITIES FROM 2000 TO 2014

Mr. Kunjapong Anuratpanich, Director, IOI-Thailand 

IOI-Thailand Operational Center was established in 2000. At first, the center was affiliates to the Office of the Thai Marine Policy and Restoration Committee (OTMPRC) under the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), Office of the Prime Minister. Later in 2003, OTMPRC was transferred to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. OTMPRC is responsible for management of sustainable marine and coastal resources utilization and environment protection by providing National Marine and Coastal Policy and cooperating with various interagency departments in implementing the resource conservation programmes such as surveillance, monitoring and control and educational programmes. DMCR also support the concept of sustainable resource utilization by strengthening the capacity building. The Department is implementing the training programmes to educate stakeholders such as fishermen, children as well as teachers and other resource users for more understanding of the vulnerable ecosystem. 

Later on June 20th, 2006, IOI-Thailand established a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) of Thailand to cooperate on the issue of multi-hazard disaster early warning arrangement. 

During the period 2001-2009, IOI Thailand had implemented many activities as follows: 

- Organized Opening Ceremony of IOI-Thailand on 20 March 2001 at H. Slade Hall, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand; 

- Co-organized Expert Consultation on Thai Marine Policies and Strategies with participations from relevant interagency departments at Iyapura Resort and Spa, Kho Chang, Trad during 24-28 March 2002 (fund raising of US $ 26,600); 

- Co-organized the 6th International Conference on Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas, Bangkok, Thailand during 18-21 November 2003 at Montian Riverside Hotel; 

- Support a travel cost of Ms. Pantip Lertpradit to attend the IOI Canada Training Course during May-July 2004 (US $ 2,000); 

- As a Secretary of the Working Group on Substance Program co-organized the 3rd Bangkok World Conservation Congress with IUCN at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand, 17-25 November 2004; 

- Assisted in Establishment of Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) and Project Management on Technical Collaboration with International Organizations from 21 March 2005 onwards; 

- Co-organized IOC Expert Mission to Indian Ocean Countries to Access Requirements and Capacity for an Effective and Durable National Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems, 18-20 August 2005 at NDWC, Thailand; 

- Translated a document from English into Thai the Status of Coral Reefs in Tsunami Affected Countries: 2005; 

- IOI-Thailand, NDWC, DMCR, Department of Fisheries (DOF) and other agencies jointly organized 2006-2012 World Ocean Day celebrations; 

- Co-organized Post-Disaster Assessment and Monitoring of Changes in Coastal Ocean and Human Systems in the Indian Ocean and Asian Waters with IOC/WESTPAC at the Royal Phuket City , Phuket during 20-25 February 2006 (fund raising of US $ 10,000); 

- Support a travel cost for Mr. Passkorn Kunthasap to attend the IOI Canada Training Course during May-July 2006 (US $ 2,000); 

- Organized the Children Artwork Contests under the theme “ Ocean in My Little World”, World Ocean Day 2006 at Siam Ocean World, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand, 8-16 June 2006 with 481 contenders from 14 provinces (fund raising of US $ 10,000); 

- Assisted NDWC to organize a Launching Ceremony for the 1st Deployment of a Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami at the Cape Panwa Hotel in Phuket, 1-5 December 2006; 

- IOI-Thailand supported experts for the Adaptive Learning in Disaster Management for Community Awareness and Resilience Project (ALDC) to educate the local stakeholders, including the children, about disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation under technical cooperation between NDWC and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) through Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) (fund raising of US $ 650,000); 

- Co-organized the Children Artwork Contests, World Ocean Day 2007, 24 schools in six Andaman Coastal provinces of Thailand affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, 5-14 June 2007; 

- IOI-Thailand continued to support ALDC Project under NDWC/UNESCO/IOC from October 2007-Decenber 2008; 

- IOI-Thailand implemented the Competition on the Best Community Work Plan on Disaster Preparedness and Response (CBCWP) Project under UNOCHA/UNDP from October-December 2007; 

- Organized Pacem in Maribus Conference PIM XXXII entitled “Wave of Change: Women, Youth and the Sea: Partnering for the Protection of The Marine Environment and the Sustainable Use of Its Resources and Children Art Work exhibition under the theme “Thai Sea, Coral reef, and Mangrove”, 5-8 November 2007 at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, Malta; 

- IOI-Thailand cooperated with DOF to develop the Master Plan of the Gender Equality in Fisheries in 2008; 

- Organized the 1st IOI Canada Alumni Meeting at Department of Fisheries, Thailand on 15 February 2008; 

- Co-organized the Children Artwork Contests, World Ocean Day 2008, 3 at Phuket Marine Biological Center, 8-10 May 2008 (fund raising of US $ 4,000); 

- Supported a travel cost for Ms. Adhinand Intrapim to attend the IOI Canada Training Course during May-July 2008 (US $ 2,000); 

- IOI Thailand attended the International Conference on Tsunami Warning (ICTW) Bali, Indonesia, 12-14 November 2008 and presented papers on increase of disaster risk reduction knowledge for women and youths in six Andaman coastal provinces of Thailand; 

- Co-organized the Conclusion Meeting of Adaptive Learning in Disaster Management for Community Awareness and Resilience with National Disaster Warning Center Thailand (NDWC) and IOC/UNESCO at Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket (17 January 2009); 

- Organized meetings at various universities in Thailand for IOI Japan (14-19 March 2009); 

- Co-organized the Tsunami Preparedness and Mitigation for Tourism Sector and Business Entrepreneur in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Thailand (2 – 3 April 2009); 

- Attended the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System – Working Group 6 (ICG/IOTWS-VI) in Hyderabad, India (6-8 April 2009); 

- Organized a study tour on tsunami early warning and mitigation system and community-based aquaculture management for Rector of Bahria University and IOI-Pakistan Focal Point (21-24 April 2009); 

- Organized the NGO Back-to-Back Workshop on Ocean Governance and Sustainable Development at Richmond Hotel, Nonthaburi (6-7 May 2009) (fund raising of US $ 5,800 from Petroleum Authority of Thailand); 

- Co-organized The World Ocean Day 2009 and Children Art Work Exhibition with Chiang Mai Night Safari and partners at the Chiang Mai Night Safari, Chiang Mai, Thailand (18-24 May 2009) (fund raising from private sectors of about US $ 5,000); 

- Implemented the Adaptive Learning in Disaster Management for Community Awareness and Resilience in Six Andaman Coastal Provinces and conducted activities under the Women, Youth and the Sea Programme on Empowering Women and Youth in Planning and Management of Disaster Risk Reduction into Communities Where the Warning Towers are Located in Six Coastal Provinces of Thailand (13 – 20 September 2009); 

- Organized Expert Consultation Workshop on Shore Line change, Erosion Management and Sea Level Rise during 1-2 December 2009 at Rama Garden Hotel and Resort in Bangkok, Thailand (fund raising of US $ 10,000); 

In November 2009, a new MOU between Foundation of National Disaster Warning Council (FNDWC) and IOI Headquarters was signed and valid for five years (2009-2014). IOI-Thailand continued to implement various activities as follows: 

- Co-organized the Children Artwork Contests under the theme “ Fisheries for Food Security and Sustainable Development, World Ocean Day 2010 during 6-11 June 2010 at the Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural Study Center of the Zoological Parks Organization in Bangkok, Thailand (fund raising of US $ 4,000); 

- Co-organized the Children Artwork Contests under the theme “Marine Biological Diversity and Climate Change Impacts”, World Ocean Day 2011 during 5-11 June 2010 at Kho Loy Sriracha, Sriracha, Thailand (fund raising of US $ 3,000); 

- Attended PIM XXXIII Conference on Oceans, Climate Change & Sustainable Development: Challenges to Oceans & Coastal Cities 2-4 September 2010 in Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 

- Supported a travel cost for Mr. Wichayoot Boonkosol to attend IOI Malta Training Course during November-December 2010 (fund raising of US $ 1,500) 

- Organized Expert Consultation on Effects of Distance Large Earthquakes on Infrastructure in Bangkok, Thailand in collaboraton with Association of Natural Disaster Prevention Industry (ANDPI), Bangkok Metropolitan Agency (BMA), FNDWC, NDWC in July 2011 at Rama Garden Hotel and Resort (fund raising of US $ 30,000); 

- IOI Thailand published a Children Album of Artworks on Thai Sea and Global Warming which is a collective artworks organized during the World Ocean Day from 2006-2009 in 2011 (fund raising of US $ 15,000); 

- Organized the Children Artwork Contests under the theme “ Blue Economy: Living with the Ocean in a Sustainable Relationship”, World Ocean Day 2012 on 28 July 2012 at Lertlar School Kaset-Nawamin, Bangkok, Thailand (fund raising of US $ 10,000); 

- Attended 6th World Urban Forum in Naples, Italy and organized the Children Artworks exhibition in September 2012; 

- Organized the Workshop on Stakeholder Capacity Assessment on Critical Flooding/Flash Flood Events in Thailand in cooperation with Institute of Earth Systems, 

University of Malta; Pacific Disaster Center, Hawaii, U.S.A.; and Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) at NDWC, Thailand on 20 November 2012; 

- Hosted Prof. Nicholas Kathijotes, IOI Cyprus Focal Point who attended the Workshop on Small-Scale Fisheries Livelihoods, Well-being, Vulnerability and Governance in Bangkok, 17-19 December 2012; 

- Translated a document from English into Thai the World Ocean Review 2010: Living with the Oceans with financial support from Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited in 2012 (US $ 3,300); 

- Conducted fund raising campaign for PIMXXXIV in Thailand from January-August 2013 (US $ 100,000); 

- Organized a meeting & transportation for Mr. Ray Shirkhodai, Executive Director of Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) at the NDWC, Bangkok, Thailand on 11 January 2013 under the project Enhancing Capacity in Flood Early Warning of NDWC in Thailand; 

- Organized the Fishery Seminar in Phuket, Thailand in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries, Thailand and IOI Focal Point, Finland on 17 January 2013; 

- Organized Oil Spill Risks in Thailand in cooperation with IOI Focal Point Finland and Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University and ESSO Public Company Limited in Bangkok, Thailand on 5 April 2013 (fund raising from ESSO, US $ 700); 

- Attended Expert Consultation Workshop on Tsunami Awareness, Preparedness and Resilience for Malta during 23-24 May 2013 at the University of Malta; 

- Attended the Hotel Safety Seminar organized by Association of Natural Disaster Prevention Industry (ANDPI) at the Asia Hotel in Bangkok on 4 July 2013; 

- Attended an interagency meeting at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) to discuss Thailand 's Expert Consultation on Implementation of UNCLOS and Related Instruments on 5 July 2013; 

- A courtesy meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand on cooperation in organization of the PIMXXXIV International Forum on Sustainable Governance of the Ocean during 4-6 September 2013 on 15 July 2013 at the Government House; 

- Co-organized with IOI Headquarters, Government of Thailand and partners PIMXXXIV International Forum on Sustainable Governance of the Ocean, 3-8 September 2013 at Centara Grand Hotel at Central Plaza Ladprao, Bangkok, Thailand; 

- Supported travel costs for 2 participants from NDWC to attend 2nd IOI China Training on Regional Ocean Governance for the Western Pacific Region, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China from 16 October-8 November 2013 (US $ 2,000); 

- Supported a travel cost for Ms. Suparat Chatriyavej to attended IOI Canada Training Programme during May-July 2014 (US $ 2,000) 

It can be concluded that during the last 15 years, IOI-Thailand has collaborated with government agencies, private sector, NGOs and academic institutions to implement many activities to promote ocean governance and sustainable development at the national and local levels. These activities were supported with a total amount of fund raised in Thailand of more than US $ 891,600 or 26,750,000 THB. Though the amount is not much in term of value, the impacts of activities are considered enormous. 

Chapter 3 : HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN OCEAN GOVERNANCE 

Mr. Wichayoot Boonkosol, Coordinator, IOI-Thailand 

I have been involved with IOI since 2010 when I had an opportunity to attend the IOI Training Programme in Ocean Governance for the Mediterranean, Black, Baltic, and Caspian Seas in Malta. The training course has helped me understand more about an important concept in ocean governance and sustainable development that is living with the ocean and from the ocean in a sustainable relationship. In addition to having learned about ocean governance, from the course, I had a good opportunity to communicate and to learn from IOI people on their dedication and spirits to build up resource persons for our world ocean. 

After completing my training course in Malta, I joined IOI-Thailand in a capacity as a Coordinator on a voluntary basis. I have carried out fund raising to organize workshops/seminars/ conferences; organized World Ocean Day celebration; organized the IOI exhibition at the World Expo 2012 in Yeosu, the Republic of Korea; assisted IOI Headquarters in organizing IOI Malta Training Courses since 2011; and prepared a publication on the 40th anniversary of IOI and the Commemoration of 10th anniversary of Prof. Elisabeth Mann Borgese’s demise. In October 2013, I have attended the first Master’s degree programme in Ocean Governance at the University of Malta. 

My dissertation is entitled “Obstacle to Good Ocean, Fisheries and Aquaculture Governance in Southeast Asian Countries Particularly UNCLOS and the Way Forward”. During the last three decades, there are all together 33 Thai persons who attended the IOI training courses in Canada, Malta and China (Chapter VII). It can be noted that during 1981-1991, IOI Alumni are 13 

from Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This may be due to the fact that Thailand had signed the UNCLOS in 1982. Later on, IOI Alumni are from various Technical departments such as Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Science & Technology; Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; National Disaster Warning Center, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, etc. Many of these Alumni have promoted to the high level positions and contributed greatly to their organizations and Thailand. 

However, Thailand will need to build up a strong group of maritime experts with an institutional memory and knowledge on implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its related instruments, in which the policy response of coastal and ocean management are complicated by the fact that maritime zones often extend across multiple political jurisdictions. 

This will provide an opportunity to coordinate and collaborate among interagency departments in Thailand and international organizations to strengthen and to promote roles and capacity of interagency departments in dealing with Thailand’s implementation of UNCLOS and its related instruments particularly at policy and operational levels. 

In most cases, the IOI Alumni from Thailand received financial support from IOI Canada and IOI Headquarters in Malta, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), State Oceanic Administration of China (SOA), Coastal Development Centre (CDC) and from the IOI-Thailand Operational Centre. There is however no financial support from the Thai Government. 

As Thailand could benefited greatly from attending such IOI training programmes it may be effective for Thailand to provide financial inputs for human resource development in Ocean Governance in the years to come. As we are entering in 2015 the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Thailand should be able to lead AEC in aspects of ocean governance and sustainable development. It will be very useful to plan and to design an appropriate Training Course in Ocean Governance for the Asia-Pacific region in the near future.