Humans of East Asian Seas (EAS) Stories

Ms. Masako Bannai Otsuka pioneered the Integrated management System (ICM) startup phase in Japan, bringing the global and East Asian experiences of implementing ICM in Japan. Her work with the national and local governments facilitated, promoted and help launched projects in ICM model sites across Japan (including: (1) Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, (2) Shima City, Mie Prefecture, (3) Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, (4) Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, (5) Sukumo City and Otsuki Town, Kochi Prefecture, (6) Nagasaki Prefecture, and (7) Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture). Her expert contribution included the documentation and dissemination the (latest) ICM information domestically through writing more than 400 articles on national and international ICM implementation on the Ocean Policy Research Foundation blog.                                                                                          

Her (proven) technical expertise allowed for the successful coordination of diverse stakeholders of the ICM sites; and the setting up of study groups and local associations of citizens, companies, local government officials, and others sectors. Furthermore, her effort in planning and preparing for the PEMSEA Network of Local Government (PNLG) conference held in Shima City a model ICM site in Japan, in 2013 was able to connect the local government officials and local coastal stakeholders of Shima City with other participants from countries of the East Asian Seas region. Her efforts also contributed to Shima City’s formulation of basic plans that included the Shima City Sato-umi Creation Basic Plan (also known as the Shima City Basic Plan for the Comprehensive Management of Coastal Areas) under the slogan "Earn, learn and play! Shima, a new Sato-umi city". As a result, the brand, which utilizes Shima City's resources, has gained worldwide recognition. 

Dr. Nam Jungho was involved in the organization of several training programs, on-site surveys, and policy-related gatherings in cooperation with PEMSEA Resource Facility over the past 24 years; and continues to provide policy advice to the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries in RO Korea as a country partner of PEMSEA. His ICM on-site support resulted in the enhancement of coastal management in various sites in RO Korea and Cambodia. His research cover integrated coastal planning, climate change adaptation, marine environment management, marine ecosystem protection, coastal conflict resolution, transboundary marine environmental affairs, official development assistance, marine science and technology application has helped improve sustainable coastal management practices in the East Asia region and contributed to the formulation of marine policies for the RO Korea government and establishment of legal and institutional mechanisms for sustainable ocean and coasts. 

He has been participating in panels and working committees on global and regional environmental issues and their related activities, including on land-based activities control, marine debris management, coastal watershed management, transboundary protected areas etc in PEMSEA, COBSEA, NOWPAP, Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecoregion and the World Ocean Forum.

Dr. Zaki Iskandar SE. M.Si facilitated the establishment and strengthening the implementation of integrated Coastal Management of Tangerang Regency, Banten, Indonesia in support of the national and local programs and the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia. His guidance resulted in the effective conduct of several regional capacity building activities including ICM Course, SOC training and hosting of the PNLG forum in Tangerang Indonesia. 

He facilitated the implementation of the flagship program on Habitat restoration and Coastal Community Development with Gerbang Mapan (Coastal Community Development Movement). He spearheaded several innovative solutions for Tangerang Regency including: Bioconversion of Organic Waste with Maggot BS Online Based Tangerang Application; Reduce Our School Waste (KURASSAKI); Reduce Office Waste (KURASAKAN); School Based Sanitation (SANISEK); Islamic Boarding School-Based Sanitation (SANITREN); People's Movement to Overcome Dense Slum and Poor Areas (GEBRAK PAKUMIS) Gerbang Mapan (Coastal Community Movement). 

Under his leadership, the ICM implementation in Tangerang Regency addressed priority issues in its coastal area including degradation of coastal ecosystems, pollution, coastal erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion, lack of basic infrastructures in rural coastal areas, and lack of spatial planning and coordination in coastal development. In 2023, Tangerang Regency achieved the Level 1 Certification of its ICM System.

Mr. WU Shouji led the implementation of PEMSEA‘s Scaling up SDS-SEA Program in Quanzhou from 2014 to 2020 as the Program Coordinator and Manager. He established the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) mechanism and applied PEMSEA’s Integrated Information Management System in Quanzhou. 

In 2018, he used the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) to assess the management performance of local Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). By adapting ICM tools and management concepts, he contributed to improving the management of coastal regulations and strengthening the effectiveness of protected areas. 

Through his efforts, Mr. Wu helped restore 160 hectares of mangroves. In 2015, Quanzhou achieved ICMS Level 1 Certification, becoming one of the first six cities in China to obtain the ICM certification. Mr. Wu’s continuous work has led Quanzhou to achieve ICMS Level 1 re-certification in 2020 and ICMS Level 2 Certification in 2022.

Ms. Isdahartati has been involved in PEMSEA-led projects in Indonesia from 2010 to the present. She was responsible for developing a pollution management plan for Citepus River and adjacent coastal areas, as well as addressing pollution reduction and waste management in Pelabuhanratu Bay. She also prepared a draft baseline and risk/vulnerability assessment report, offering recommendations for improving the Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCA/DRR) plans for Pelabuhanratu City, Indonesia. 

Ms. Isdahartati facilitated a local State of the Coast (SOC) reorientation workshop for the Technical Working Group (TWG), key stakeholders, and potential data providers. She also contributed to the preparation of the five-year SDS-SEA Implementation Plan for Indonesia in 2019 and the National State of the Oceans and Coasts Report for Indonesia covering 2016-2018. 

As the head of the PNLC Secretariat in Bogor, she coordinated with relevant agencies, departments, and stakeholders in planning, implementing, and monitoring the ICM program. She provided technical guidance and support for monitoring the implementation and impacts of ICM program activities and for applying tools for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. 

As a member of the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies at IPB University, which is part of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLG), she has provided recommendations to strengthen existing management programs related to habitat conservation, rehabilitation, and alternative livelihood development in selected pilot sites, as well as the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) program in Indonesia. 
 

Dr. Fang has trained, lectured, and has written publications on Integrated Coastal Management, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable coastal development for several years now. 

As the Deputy Director of Coastal and Ocean Management Institute (COMI) in Xiamen University, Dr. Fang successfully facilitated COMI’s recognition as a PEMSEA’s Regional Center of Excellence (RCoE) on sustainable coastal development. He is a tireless promoter of COMI’s international postgraduate program of Marine Affairs to a program with regional impacts for the younger generation of talents of ICM and sustainable coastal development. 

Dr. Fang works closely with PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Secretariat to help improve its human and resource capacity, produce the annual PNLG Newsletter, and develop the PNLG Profile stories to promote ICM experience sharing in the region. 
 

Ms. Marivic P. Esmas serves as the Assistant Department Head of the Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) in Batangas. She oversees the operations of key divisions, including the Environmental Quality Monitoring Division, the Biodiversity Management Division, the Waste Management Division, and the Management Services Division. She also provided technical assistance to the governor to ensure the effective delivery of environmental and natural resource services, along with the provision of adequate facilities. 

Ms. Esmas led the operation, upgrade, and expansion of the PGENRO Batangas Environment Laboratory, transforming it from a bay-wide monitoring facility in 1998 to a laboratory authorized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau. She initiated a comprehensive water quality monitoring program that covers the Calumpang River and its tributaries, the Palico and San Juan Rivers, the Calaca shoreline, Batangas Bay, Balayan Bay, and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). 

In 2021, Ms. Esmas spearheaded the documentation of the Batangas Province Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) System in compliance with the ICM Code which contributed to Batangas Province receiving the ICM Level II Certification from PEMSEA in 2020. 

She also led the development of the Batangas Province Strategic Environmental Management Plan 2021-2045 and authored the ALA-EEE (Educate, Engage, Empower) Zero Waste Tiangge and Kapehan Project. 
 

Ms. Chindavanh Souriyaphack has been actively involved in sustainable development through the Sedone Integrated River Basin Management and SDS-SEA implementation from 2008 to 2020. 

As the IRBM project manager and PEMSEA coordinator during the project preparation phase, she translated the English version of the National River Basin Strategy. She also contributed to the preparation of a rapid assessment of the area, which included community consultations to identify values, threats, and potentials for developing the area as an IWRM demonstration site. She actively conducted three sub-river basin management and planning efforts, establishing a water use committee in five villages, and upgrading the drinking water system in seven villages. 

Currently, she serves as the National Coordinator and Manager of the Sedone Integrated River Basin Management Project and the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal Marine and Environment National Focal Point at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Department of Water Resources in Vientiane, Lao PDR. 
 

Mr. Jimmy Masagca is a Professor of Biology and Educational Management at De La Salle University Dasmariñas and currently serves as the president of Pacific Tech (PIPTAS). He has led several mangrove restoration initiatives, including SURMABIOCON (Conserving and Reviving Mangrove Vegetation in Catanduanes Island, Philippines), which focuses on mangrove restoration, and the Mangrove Replantation for Biowalling/Biosheltering against Tidal Surges and AquaSilviculture projects, to support a community of fishermen and farmers. 

SURMABIOCON implements a range of programs, such as establishing a telecenter in village elementary schools and barangay hall to keep the community informed about income-generating projects, including Tilapia Saline Aquaculture, Seagrass Growing, Sea Urchin Cages Growing, and Crab Condominium for Fattening. 

Mr. Masagca also lectures on how local coastal communities and governments can address various challenges related to agri-aquaculture and marine protection. His lectures cover topics such as land and sea use zoning and the application of telematic gadgets. 
 

Ms. Dircia Sarmento Belo is the founder of Laudato Si’ Movement Timor-Leste which is inspired to educate the youth to take an active role in climate change advocacy. 

In 2021, Ms. Belo organized the first-ever Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) on climate change in Timor-Leste, themed "The Voice of an Island." The conference brought the youth from various municipalities who participated by taking action in selected communities by managing waste, planting mangroves, and conserving spring water. In the same year, Ms. Belo marshaled a small number of volunteers for a community response post during the flooding calamity in Dili where they distributed food, drinking water, hygiene products, and household items to 700 flood-affected families, as well as emergency food boxes to families living in evacuation shelters. 

In 2023, Ms. Belo represented Timor-Leste as an International Youth Delegate at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, UAE. In January 2024, she and her team organized the Ocean Heroes Bootcamp at the Sustainable Ocean Alliance Timor-Leste where the youth actively participated in activities including Ocean Plastic Art, Ecosystem Conservation, Exploring Marine Life, and Reef Transplantation, empowering the youth to become advocates for marine conservation and sustainability. 

Ms. Belo’s work has made her an inspiring figure for young people locally, nationally, and globally. She shares her journey through platforms such as the Laudato Si' Movement Timor-Leste, Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) Timor-Leste, and with the National Directorate of Climate Change. 
 

Mr. Yun Kon Sam has worked for the Ministry of Fisheries of DPR Korea, overseeing the Sustainable Development Program of Fisheries for Wonsan since 2015. In 2018, he contributed to the development of the national policy for the Marine Resources Management Information System (MRMIS), which was one of sustainable development programs of fisheries under the National ICM Plan of DPR Korea.           

Using the spatial planning method, the developed MRMIS contributed to the preparation of national policies for sustainable development of fisheries, including the annual fish capture planning and the conservation and enhancement of marine resources.           

From 2021 to 2022, Mr. Yun was instrumental in preparing environmentally-friendly and sustainable fisheries development programs, which were integral to the National Green Mid to Long-Term Plan of DPR Korea. In 2023, he also contributed to the preparation of national policies and organization of mechanisms aimed to increase the marine culture products and conserving DPR Korea’s marine ecological environment.