ASEAN waters to become playground

ASEAN waters to become playground

SINGAPORE (DPA): An ambitious plan to turn the waters around
the ASEAN countries into a regional marine playground will be
boosted by a three-month expedition to Indonesia, an organizer
said Thursday.

Expedition leader Francis Lee said the marine conservation
trip starting in September will be filmed by the National
Geographic Channel and document Indonesia's rich marine life.

Professor Chou Loke Ming, a marine biologist at the National
University of Singapore, will be among the leaders of the 80-
member team composed primarily of scientists, photographers and
diving enthusiasts.

The trip, expected to conclude in December, will cover 5,000
nautical miles, Lee said, stretching from Singapore to
destinations in the Sulawesi, Banda and Sunda seas. Documenting
the marine life will provide material for selling the country as
a destination later.