The cabinet has approved adding three marine mammals to the protected wildlife list to safeguard ocean biodiversity.
It greenlit a draft ministerial regulation yesterday to designate humpback whales, Bryde's whales and Risso's dolphins as protected species, following a proposal from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
According to Pinsak Suraswadi, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the decision marks a key step in Thailand's commitment to marine conservation.
The animals will now be protected under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562, which prohibits hunting, trading, importing, or exporting these species without special permission, limited to zoological purposes. Possession also requires a licence.
These species play a vital role in marine ecosystems but face increasing threats from accidental entanglement in fishing gear, maritime traffic, and illegal capture for display.
The new regulation aligns with Thailand's obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).
The DMCR, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and the Department of Fisheries, is piloting technologies such as acoustic deterrents, advanced materials and automated aerial surveillance, which will help reduce fishing gear entanglement and poaching risks.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has recommended notifying Cites member countries of the new protection status to strengthen international collaboration and combat wildlife trafficking.
Although not native to Thailand, all three species have been observed in Thai waters.
Humpback and Bryde's whales have been recorded since 1992, notably in Ao Por, Phuket.
Risso's dolphins have been stranded 11 times between 2003 and 2022 in provinces including Phuket, Rayong, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Trang.
The listing is expected to restore marine ecosystem health, reduce trade-related risks, enhance the country's conservation image, and inspire public awareness and sustainable ecotourism, according to the DMCR.