Wei heads to Taiwan for the ONE-SEA Workshop on Marine Debris Management
by Research Associate Siu Tzyy Wei
On 11-18th June 2023, I received the opportunity to attend the ONE-SEA Workshop representing Brunei and as a Research Associate from the Global Awareness and Impact Alliance (GAIA). Alongside 21 other delegates from Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines, we spent one week travelling across three different cities in Taiwan as we explored the topic of marine debris management through lectures, site visits and group discussions. The programme was co-organised by the Oceans Affairs Council and the National Taiwan University.
Given that my research interests are primarily in maritime security issues in Southeast Asia, marine debris management was at first an almost unfamiliar topic to me. However, it turned out to be a massive learning opportunity on multiple levels.
On the first day in Taipei, the program provided us with high-level, expert and informative lectures that covered a wide range of topics - from scientific methods on tracking marine debris, to current Taiwanese successes in marine debris management. Due to its high level of practicality and relevance, one lecture that I particularly enjoyed was by Professor Tsai Chin Ting on tackling challenges whilst working in a politicised reality which required analysing the efficacies of global treaties and the role of NGOs in marine debris management.
The next few days were spent travelling to Kaohsiung and Tainan, and embarking on site visits, all of which widened the conversation around marine debris. From visiting the Ocean Affairs Council to garment factories that work towards a sustainable circular economy, to a national park that conserves mangrove forests and promotes ethical methods of oyster farming, to visiting a luxury yacht company, a commercial port and a leading shipbuilding company, the program was intelligently designed to cater to the individual expertise of all participants of the program, whilst simultaneously providing fruitful learning experiences for all. The overall design of the program was holistic, and thus, maximised our time in Taiwan in the best way possible.
Coming back to Taipei, we were involved in mini-roundtables where we connected the similarities in regards to marine debris management in our home countries with Taiwanese experts - from marine economics to global marine governance, participants were challenged to think critically in finding and implementing potential solutions and action plans that are within our capacities back home.
All in all, this was truly a very impressive program through and through, and has managed to include a very diverse and strong network of individuals with vast experience from their own sectors for a holistic, multilateral path of regional collaboration on marine debris management. I strongly hope that future editions of this program should take place in promoting all-sector collaboration in this realm as we all work towards a more sustainable global economy and safer international waters. As such, I would like to sincerely thank the Taiwanese Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei, the Ocean Affairs Council under the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Taiwan University for trusting me with this opportunity to network and learn from the experts of both Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Taiwan is indeed admirable and highly respectable in the efforts it has made towards this sector, and has given me a lot of inspiration to bring it forward in my future endeavours in my role as a GAIA Research Associate as well as a Masters student.