Toyama, Japan — NOWPAP Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) organized the Expert Meeting on Marine Biodiversity and Eutrophication on 5-6 August 2013 in Toyama. Experts from NOWPAP member states (PR China, RO Korea, Japan and Russia) together with representatives from the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) and Japan Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) participated in the meeting.

 

 

Beijing, PR China — NOWPAP Data and Information Network Regional Activity Center (DINRAC) held its 11th Focal Points Meeting on 24-25 July 2013 in Beijing. The goals of this meeting were to review ongoing projects, discuss suggested activities for 2014-2015, and agree on the work plan and budget for the 2014-2015 biennium (to be approved by the 18th NOWPAP IGM in December 2013).

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — Mr. Jerome Esperanza joins PEMSEA as the new webmaster for the PEMSEA Resource Facility. His expertise in web development and management will greatly contribute to enhancing the capacity of the PRF in promoting the organization, ICM and SDS-SEA via online platforms.

 

 

Manila, Philippines — Coinciding with PEMSEA's 20th anniversary, the Fifth East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council adopted a number of decisions and milestones that will play a crucial role in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) in years to come, and the future of PEMSEA as an independent, self-sustaining organization.

 

 

Manila, Philippines — PEMSEA has designated the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines (UP-MSI) as its Regional Center of Excellence (RCoE) on Coral Reef Research and Marine Protected Areas. The recognition was formalized during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PEMSEA and UP-MSI at the opening of the Fifth East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting held last 9 July in Manila.

 

 

Manila, Philippines — The East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council ushered in new leadership as it elected new Chairs and Co-Chairs last 9 July 2013 during the Fifth EAS Partnership Council Meeting held in Manila.

 

With the successful completion of their terms, Dr. Chua Thia-Eng, Dr. Li Haiqing and Mr. Hiroshi Terashima stepped down from their positions as chairs of the EAS Partnership Council to give way to their former co-chairs:

 

 

Dili, Timor-Leste — Despite being a young and small country, Timor-Leste has shown great commitment to initiatives in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). Like its neighbors in the region, Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), began laying the foundation for ICM scaling up as a major step toward sustainability of marine and coastal environment and resources in this newly developing nation.

 

 

Jakarta, Indonesia — This year, Indonesia has made big steps toward implementing Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) under the framework of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) that will help strike a good balance between environmental preservation and economic potential for the archipelagic nation's seas and coasts.

 

 

Nha Trang, Vietnam — The Sub-commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) will hold its Ninth International Scientific Symposium on 22-25 April 2014 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. The event will be hosted by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and co-organized by the VAST Institute of Oceanography and the National IOC Committee for Vietnam.

 

 

Phuket, Thailand — During a series of national workshops held in the Gulf of Thailand, the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping initiative was met with positive response and appreciation from relevant government and nongovernment agencies, including private oil companies.