The Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre (POMRAC) and Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) have organized respectively their 11th Focal Points Meeting on 9-10 October 2013 in Tianjin, PR China and on 11-12 September 2013 in Toyama, Japan.

 

 

A NOWPAP representative attended the 15th Global Meeting of Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (GMRS) held in Montego Bay, Jamaica on 30 September – 1 October 2013. The Second Global Land-Ocean Connections Conference (GLOC-2) was held at the same venue on 2-4 October where work plans of three global partnerships (on marine litter, nutrients and wastewater) were discussed in detail.

 

 

Shima, Japan — The 12th annual forum of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) was a successful showcase of integrated coastal management (ICM) and its use in scaling up conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, including marine protected areas (MPAs).

 

 

The Sub-commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has extended the deadline for submission of abstracts for its Ninth International Scientific Symposium to 15 December.

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand — PEMSEA participated at the 34th Pacem in Maribus (Peace in the Oceans) Conference to contribute to discussions on current marine issues and challenges relevant to the event’s theme, "International Forum on Sustainable Governance of the Ocean."

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — In recognition of his valuable contribution to PEMSEA as a leader and mentor, Dr. Chua Thia-Eng was named as Chair Emeritus of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council during the 13th Executive Committee Meeting held on 28–29 October.

 

 

Guimaras, Philippines — Leadership changes among local governments are inevitable. To ensure that full-fledged support to integrated coastal management (ICM) implementation remains strong, communicating with local chief executives and partners in ICM sites is a continuing process.

 

 

Phan Thiet, Vietnam — Vietnam's National Southern Oil Spill Response Center (NASOS) conducted a workshop on Establishing the Provincial Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan (OCPP) and Provincial Environmental Sensitivity Index Map (ESI-MP) in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan province on 5–7 October. This initiative is part of Vietnam’s commitment to support the Joint Statement and Framework Programme for Joint Oil Spill Preparedness and Response in the Gulf of Thailand.

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — In preparation for PEMSEA's entry to its fourth phase in 2014, the 13th Executive Committee Meeting focused on the key actions needed to ensure smooth transition in operations and mechanisms and help strengthen the organization’s self-financing capacity.

 

 

Xiamen, PR China — The State Oceanic Administration of PR China (SOA) convened the PEMSEA Achievement Exchange Meeting and the Symposium on the 20th Anniversary of PEMSEA Implementation in China during the Xiamen World Ocean Week (XWOW) 2013 as a move to commemorate two decades of partnership between PEMSEA and China.