Driven by a firsthand encounter with the devastating impact of fishing nets on marine life, this passionate diver founded Myanmar Ocean Project, the country's pioneering non-profit organisation for ocean conservation. Since 2018, she has devoted her life to studying the extent and consequences of Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) in Myanmar. In 2019, supported by the National Geographic Society, Ocean Conservancy, and Global Ghost Gear Initiative, Thanda Ko Gyi and her team embarked on a year-long expedition in the Myeik Archipelago to investigate ALDFG. To date, her organisation has surveyed nearly 90 sites across the archipelago, removing over 1,800 kilograms of harmful fishing nets and rescuing hundreds of marine animals. They work closely with the fishing communities to identify ALDFG hotspots and understand the root causes and impact of discarded fishing gear. Currently, Thanda Ko Gyi is working to implement Myanmar Ocean Project, Disposal Rig for Ocean Plastic (MOPDROP) , a collection shed for end- of- life fishing gear and other ocean-bound plastics.