NOWPAP Holds International Coastal Cleanup and Marine Litter Workshop

 

The 2013 NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Workshop on Marine Litter Management were successfully conducted from 24 to 26 October 2013 in Okinawa, Japan.

 

Sponsored by NOWPAP, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the Japanese Government, the marine litter workshop convened at the campus of Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology has brought about 100 participants from NOWPAP countries of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, as well as countries beyond the NOWPAP region such as Estonia, Indonesia, Philippines, United States and Thailand.

 

NOWPAP marine litter focal points and other participants from governments, academic institutions, and international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) shared their practices in addressing marine litter problem, including raising public awareness and promoting ICC campaigns worldwide. The workshop was focused on four themes stressing the efforts of NGOs, local and central governments, latest developments in research and monitoring, and international cooperation.

 

After the workshop, a beach cleanup was organized at two beaches where the workshop participants with the local people collected marine litter items, sorted them out and recorded in the ICC data cards which will be reported to Ocean Conservancy for compilation in the annual report.