Research Associate Wei attends the Marine Warriors Workshop in Nha Trang
by Siu Tzyy Wei, Research Associate
From 1-6 December 2022, I attended a Regional Workshop, this time in the seaside city of Nha Trang in Vietnam, under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). This program is fully funded by the US Embassy in Hanoi in partnership with World Learning.
Alongside approximately 100 youths, the Marine Warriors workshop serves as a platform for budding young Southeast Asian leaders who are determined to serve in the realms of environmental and maritime issues amidst the climate change crisis. As such, I am thankful to be accepted as one of the six members of team Brunei to represent my country and to learn from other peers.
Upon arriving in Nha Trang, we were warmly welcomed by their team of volunteers. Once again, it was heartwarming and encouraging to meet other young leaders who are passionate and driven to serve the cause they believe in. It was motivating to engage in critical conversations that one may not easily expect back home. On the bus, we were able to quickly bond through a shared care and concern for the environment and marine life, even if our chosen methods to actively mitigate climate change may differ.
Throughout the five days in Nha Trang, we listened to experts and regional young leaders on a varying range of topics under marine issues. From the sciences to the governance of marine issues, there was a lot to learn and absorb each day. In particular, two sessions that stood out to me were on the importance of the civic engagement sector in the area of marine issues.
Through the two sessions, we developed renewed awareness and a clearer understanding that marine issues is not just a scientific issue - in fact it is just as importantly a growing social issue that greatly impacts the livelihoods and quality of life for many people. With marine issues like rising sea levels and temperatures comes the loss of biodiversity and the increasingly concerning issue of food security. This societal issue perpetuates the widening social gaps and creates wider room for other social issues like transnational crimes that then affects the overall security of our countries. Additionally, we were also reminded that despite the consequences that both the youths and the environment have had to bear from previous generations, it is important to remain resilient and consistent in our own methods in mitigating the debilitating effects of climate change.
Aside from the presentations, we were brought to a site visit to the Vinh Truong Fishing Port that allowed the Bruneian team to deduce similarities with our local community who are facing a similar reality to the people of Vinh Truong. We had the opportunity to meet the local fishing community and learn about how their livelihood relies heavily on marine life. The quality and quantity of their daily catches, and in extension, their profits and quality of life is highly reliant on the consequences that their waters have to face as a result of climate change, pollution and rising temperatures. In finding ways to adapt to the consequences of climate change, IUU fishing has also become a significant concern. In retrospect, this visit also added more value into our presentation later on in the workshop.
At the presentation, the Brunei team decided to speak on the issue of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU). Based on GAIA’s policy paper on the same issue, the team delved into the intricate factors like the lack of data transparency and awareness, among many others that fuels the continuance of IUU fishing to persist in our waters. Simultaneously, we shared potential areas of improvement like strengthening and implementing stricter laws and policies in hopes to mitigate the consequences of IUU fishing not only for Brunei but for the broader Southeast Asian region as well.
Unlike my two previous YSEALI experiences, I was slightly unfamiliar with the scope of topics they covered, especially in the scientific parts of marine life and conservation. However, I am beyond grateful to be able to step out of my comfort zone and absorb what I believe is very beneficial as I develop a deepening interest in maritime security and territorial disputes at the South China Sea through research. In particular, I look forward to diving a little deeper into learning how climate change and environmental issues pose challenges that will affect both our national and regional security in the maritime sector. I believe that it is with this new curiosity and the eagerness to learn and serve our communities that we can bridge the widening yet intricate gaps in our society.