Blue Economy Bulletin June 2018
PUBLICATION DATE:
Friday, June 29, 2018
PUBLICATION TYPE:
Magazines and Newsletters
STATUS:
Available (Newsletter)
DESCRIPTION:
June saw a number of international environmental days that highlighted the need for developing a sustainable blue economy. On World Environment Day, PEMSEA published a timeline highlighting our progress towards building a blue economy for the East Asian Seas. On World Oceans Day, we looked at the issue of plastic waste, outlining some simple steps everyone can take, and highlighting examples of plastic initiatives PEMSEA has supported. We are proud to share a story about the impact of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects in the Tangerang Regency of Indonesia, and to have participated in the 6th GEF Assembly which finished today.
The global plastic problem is growing more acute, while the effects of China’s plastic waste import ban are only beginning to be felt. One way to deal with plastic waste is to close the “plastic loop”, reducing the waste that flows into the ocean and impacts coastal communities. Such waste management initiatives require the expansion of blue finance initiatives to maximize their impact and reach. Finance in the form of public private partnerships have proved useful in ensuring MPA management. With green bonds becoming more closely linked with the SDGs, WWF has set up the Asia Sustainable Finance Initiative to promote environmentally sustainable finance throughout Asia.
GEF projects focused on achieving tuna fishery sustainability in the high seas are coming to an end as a new study reveals over half of high seas fishing relies on subsidies. Sustainability for wild fisheries will benefit from 20 years of research providing a mathematical model for calculating maximum sustainable yield, as well as from evidence in the Gulf of Thailand of the effectiveness of fisheries refugia. Aquaculture is also set to be improved by integrated multi-trophic techniques being applied in the Yellow Sea. Other facets of the blue economy are also being explored by the GEF, whose Blue Forests project is providing a global assessment of the value of blue forest ecosystem services. The value of such “forests” are already visible in places like Qingdao, China, where seaweed aquaculture is an important economic activity.
The importance of ICM is highlighted by new research showing that a loss of coral reefs will result in increased flood damage to coastal areas. Such environmental risks have prompted Indonesia to declare that its next five-year development plan will be low-carbon and take into account environmental carrying capacity, while the global shipping industry is considering numerous ways it could reduce its own carbon emissions.
Follow the latest updates on blue economy and coastal sustainable development in East Asia on Facebook and Twitter (@PEMSEA). We welcome your feedback, and please let us know if there are other blue economy topics you would like to see in future newsletters and programs.
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PEMSEA eBulletin - September 2025
Dear PEMSEA community,
Sail through fresh news and stories this September!
In Jakarta, check out the PNLG Forum 2025, where more than 200 participants from nine countries gathered to showcase innovation and collaboration for coastal action, and read about Guimaras Governor Ma. Lucille Ledesma-Nava taking her oath as PNLG President for 2025–2028.
In Manila, know more about the GEF Regional Project Oversight Training which convened Operational Focal Points from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, in collaboration with PEMSEA and the Philippines’ DENR.
In Busan, look back at the 20th anniversary of the Total Pollutant Loading Management System (TPLMS), joined by representatives from MOF, KMI, academic institutions, civil society groups, and discussions from Ms. Nancy Bermas, Regional Project Manager, GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project.
In China, read about PEMSEA Resource Facility Executive Director Aimee Gonzales’ presentation on integrated coastal management at the ICM and Maritime Economy Session, and her participation in the 11th Management Committee meeting of the China–PEMSEA Coastal Management Cooperation Center with officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
In the Philippines, know more about the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region Regional Steering Committee’s approval of pilot projects to reduce marine plastics in its six sites, and the 7,000 volunteers mobilized for the International Coastal Cleanup.
Taking the global stage, learn how Orange Omengan, Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist of the IRBM Project, connects science with community realities through compelling visual storytelling with the IRBM Project at the GEF IW:LEARN webinar.
To wrap up the month, explore opportunities to join PEMSEA by visiting the careers section.
PEMSEA eBulletin - August 2025
Dear PEMSEA community,
Catch the wave of news and stories this August!
Explore how PEMSEA is working with LGUS and local stakeholders across the region to advance sustainable coastal and ocean governance. Read about the recent visit to Dipolog City, where PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales and Communications Officer Klyra Orbien met with local officials to review progress and discuss the next steps under the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas.
Learn about how cities are implementing nature-based solutions through the Southeast Asia Conference on Nature-based Solutions in Singapore, where Ms. Gonzales introduced the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) as a vital platform for building resilience in coastal cities.
Discover insights from PEMSEA’s presentation at the FASPS D.R.I.P. Series: Discussions on Results and Innovations of Projects brown bag session, where the team introduced PEMSEA and shared project progress, initiatives, and latest updates.
From Malaysia, see how the Regional Project Management Unit of the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project advanced work in the Kedah River Basin through high-level discussions, a Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus workshop, and a field visit.
Finally, check out PEMSEA’s latest consultancy opportunity on Business Development and Resource Mobilization!
Proceedings of the Seventeenth East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting
The 17th East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council (PC) Meeting was held on 22-23 July 2025 at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City in the Philippines (UTC+8).
Onsite participants of the meeting included the EAS PC Chair and Co-Chair; the Intergovernmental Session Chair and Co-Chair; the Technical Session Chair and Co-Chair; the Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF); Country partners from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Timor Leste, and Vietnam; Non-Country Partners from the Conservation International Philippines (CI PH), Ipieca GISEA, Korea Institute for Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), and the National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service (NMHMS).
Online participants included country partners from Singapore and RO Korea; Non-Country Partners from the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), International Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas Center (EMECS), Korea Maritime Institute, Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML). The meeting was also attended by online observers from UNDP Philippines, Tokai University, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Regional Baseline Assessment on Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region (Philippines and Timor-Leste)
As part of Component 1 of the MOF/PEMSEA ODA project on the Reducing Marine Plastics in East Asian Seas Region, a Plastic Analysis and Characterization Study (PACS) was conducted to provide essential data to guide project decisions and establish 10-year marine plastic management strategies and action plans, which will be developed, adopted, and implemented by local governments and stakeholders. This regional baseline assessment on marine plastics includes the conduct of PACS and Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Survey, specifically focusing on key coastal areas in the six cities and municipalities in the Philippines: Bulan, Calbayog, Daanbantayan, Dipolog, Puerto Princesa, and Tandag; and four municipalities in Timor-Leste: Atauro, Dili, Liquiçá, and Manatuto. These components are designed to understand the specific dynamics of plastic waste generation and local community behaviors towards waste management.
The regional synthesis identified persistent challenges across the plastic waste value chain, including high plastic waste generation, weak segregation, limited collection coverage, low recovery performance, inadequate disposal systems, and continued plastic leakage. Addressing these issues requires targeted interventions across all stages of the solid waste management system. Key recommendations focus on reducing single-use plastics through local policy and behavior change, improving segregation by providing bins and strengthening implementation, and expanding collection through additional vehicles and better route planning. Recovery must be enhanced by upgrading facilities and linking communities to recycling markets, while safe disposal options should be developed or improved to reduce open dumping and burning.
Baseline Assessment Report on Marine Plastics in the Six ODA Project Sites in the Philippines
This Baseline Assessment Report of MOF/PEMSEA ODA project on the Reducing Marine Plastics in East Asian Seas Region includes both the Plastic Analysis and Characterization Study (PACS) and a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Survey, specifically targeting key coastal areas in six Philippine sites: the municipalities of Bulan and Daanbantayan, and the cities of Calbayog, Dipolog, Puerto Princesa, and Tandag. These assessments aim to uncover the specific dynamics of plastic waste generation and local community behaviors toward waste management, supporting the development of data-driven interventions to address marine plastic pollution effectively.
The findings of the synthesized national baseline assessment provide valuable insights that can assist local government units, national government agencies, and relevant stakeholders in developing targeted policies and interventions. These strategies are aimed at improving solid waste management practices and reducing marine plastic pollution in coastal cities and municipalities.