Information released by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) shows yesterday there were at least two big piles of trash floating off the coast of Chumpon and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces.

Relevant agencies, including the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, local authorities and Royal Thai Navy, are working to identify the garbage and plan the clean-up operation.

The largest pile of garbage, stretching 10 kilometres, was seen 65km offshore Chumpon province, while another kilometre-long pile was seen closer to the shore, some 16km off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Leading marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat said that even though the refuse was far away from the shore and coral reefs, it still posed a serious threat to marine animals such as turtles or dolphins that may die after consuming the garbage.

“Thailand is one of the top 10 countries that dumps the most garbage in the sea, and this is not the first time that we have found garbage piles in the sea. However, this by far is the largest pile we have ever seen,” Thon said. “This garbage is very dangerous for aquatic animals, and already more than 100 rare sea turtles are killed by trash every year. Plus, if this garbage lands on the beach, our tourism industry will suffer.”

He said relevant agencies and GISTDA were closely tracking the movement of the garbage and reviewing the best way to clean up the area.

According to satellite information, the garbage was seen drifting eastwards at about 0.15 to 0.2 metres per second, posing no immediate threat to coral reefs and the coastal ecosystem.

Royal Thai Navy deputy chief of staff Vice Admiral Jumpol Lumpiganoon said the Navy was also monitoring the garbage pile and was ready to help with a clean-up operation if asked.

“We are working with the Marine and Coastal Resources Department and the local authorities of Chumpon and Prachuap Khiri Khan to plan the clean-up operation. However, since this does not come under our jurisdiction, related agencies will first have to invite us to join the operation,” Jumpol said. He added that the Navy was ready to help with big barges that could be used to bring the garbage onshore and deliver to garbage-management facilities inland.

Thon said the garbage may have washed into the sea during the recent flooding in the South. However, he pointed out that everybody should be responsible for the problem, as Thailand generates a lot of trash and every year more than 700,000 tonnes of garbage end up in the sea. “We have to start with ourselves and cut down on the use of plastic bags so we can solve this problem,” he said.