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.