The E-Update arrives in your email every other month with the latest information on PEMSEA’s activities and news and events relevant to sustainable development of coasts and oceans in the region. The March 2018 edition includes updates on the latest Blue Economy Webinar on sustainable seafood suuply chains, PEMSEA joining Closed Loop Ocean to tackle ocean plastic pollution, planning for the East Asia Seas Congress, and more.

2018 promises to be a pivotal year for blue economy development in the Seas of East Asia, as PEMSEA and its partners celebrate 25 years of progress in working towards a shared vision of healthy oceans, people and economies. We are excited to share the first issue of the Blue Economy Bulletin for 2018.

Preparations are underway for PEMSEA’s triennial East Asian Seas Congress to be held in Iloilo City, Philippines from November 27-30. As calls for private sector funding to contribute to the SDGs continue to increase, the 6th EAS Congress will focus on ushering in better, stronger and smarter regional actions, aligned with the global ocean agenda. Applications are open for organizations to host “Partnership Hub” side events, deadline for applications is March 16th.

Kicking off the year, Thailand held its National Inception Workshop in February to mobilize scaling up of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia. PEMSEA joined the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other key environmental groups in the launch of the International Year of the Reefs. At the joint ADB, UN Environment and UN ESCAP workshop on integrating environmental SDGs, PEMSEA's Executive Director Aimee Gonzales shared how the UN Ocean goal is implemented at the local level.

Elsewhere in the region, Brunei explored bilateral opportunities for blue economy development. The UN announced a Business Action Platform for the Ocean, and calls for private sector funding to contribute to the SDGs increases, including blended capital approaches to support sustainable fisheries. Green bonds, which hold promise for financing sustainable development of marine assets, are under the spotlight for accountability and transparency.

Follow the us on Facebook and Twitter (@PEMSEA) for the latest updates. 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.

Welcome to the first edition of the e-Update for 2018! PEMSEA kicks off its 25th anniversary year by welcoming a new Executive Director, Aimee Gonzales. 2018 promises to be a full year as PEMSEA reflects on the successes and lessons of two-and-a-half decades of partnerships for healthy oceans, people and economies in the the East Asian Seas, and sets its sights on the next 25 years.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@PEMSEA) for the latest updates.

Welcome to the final issue of the Blue Economy Bulletin for 2017! Thank you for your continued interest in blue economy news and events in East Asia and around the world.

Wrapping up a busy year for PEMSEA, the province of Cavite in the Philippines launched its State of the Coasts Report. In Bangkok, experts from both the public and private sectors participated in PEMSEA’s Blue Economy Forum to discuss the state of ocean health and blue economy growth in the region. Meanwhile, local capacity building continues to advance through PEMSEA’s Traineeship Programme, which included topics on blue economy and investment. Under the PEMSEA Blue Economy Webinar series, Dr. Jenna Jambeck presented on tackling ocean plastic waste in the seas of East Asia.

As the urgency to address plastic pollution increases, research continues to emerge on the impact of the problem, for instance, a report showing that some fish are attracted to plastic particles covered in algae, mistaking these for food. Experts continue to develop new solutions to manage plastic waste as the critical role of the private sector in marine protection becomes even more apparent. In sustainable finance, Fiji has successfully issued a green bond to boost climate resilience. Clarmondial and WWF release a new report on how conservation organizations can better mobilize private investment for positive environmental results. Discussions at the COP 23 highlighted the link between oceans and climate change.

2018 will be an exciting year, marking PEMSEA’s 25th anniversary and the triennial East Asian Seas Congress! We look forward to stronger partnerships as we work together towards the sustainable development of our shared seas.

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.

Welcome back to PEMSEA's E-Update, your source for the latest information on PEMSEA’s activities and news and events relevant to sustainable development of coasts and oceans in East Asia.

PEMSEA is getting ready for the Blue Economy Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, to highlight the value of blue economy growth in the region. Check out this infographic to understand how industries are dependent on healthy oceans. PEMSEA officially joined the International Partnership for Blue Carbon to advance awareness of the value of blue carbon for oceans and climate. With its practical solution to address one source of plastic pollution in our seas, Sip PH was announced as the winner of PEMSEA's Youth Small Grant for 2017.

In between newsletters, follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@PEMSEA) for the latest updates.

Welcome to the latest edition of the Blue Economy Bulletin! In the past few weeks, PEMSEA has been busy with several activities, the most exciting of which is the announcement of a new Executive Director, Ms. Aimee Gonzales, who will assume her role starting in 2018. Highlighting the latest research on “blue carbon” in the region, PEMSEA hosted a webinar featuring international blue carbon experts. During the recent US-ASEAN Conference on Marine Environmental Issues, PEMSEA participated in a blue economy panel along with Minister Kobkarn Suriyasat Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports.

Countries in the region continue to strengthen their programs for coastal management and blue economy. PEMSEA is a proud partner of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) Project Phase II, which is taking major steps forward. In Vietnam, the national government defines its master plan for the seas, BRICS countries emphasize the growth opportunities in blue economy and China’s government develops Qingdao for blue economy growth. On the industry side, hotels and marine industries in Thailand unite to focus on marine environmental issues, while a coalition of companies join forces to build a blockchain-based marine insurance platform.

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.

Welcome to the second edition of PEMSEA’s re-launched E-Update! We’re excited to introduce a new look and format, supported by an improved platform for managing updates to the PEMSEA community. The E-Update will arrive in your email every other month with the latest information on PEMSEA’s activities and news and events relevant to sustainable development of coasts and oceans in the region. In alternate months, you’ll receive the PEMSEA Blue Economy Bulletin, with updates on industry, investment and other topics relevant to blue economy development. In between newsletters, follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@PEMSEA) for the latest updates.

Welcome to the mid-summer edition of the Blue Economy Bulletin! You may notice some changes with the bulletin starting this month. PEMSEA re-launched its regular e-update last month, which will focus on policy, governance, science and coastal management in the Seas of East Asia. The Blue Economy Bulletin will now focus even more on sustainable economy, industry, technology, financing and investment in the region. Look to receive the PEMSEA e-update and Blue Economy Bulletin in alternating months.

Since the last issue, China continues to build its plans for blue economy, while the Philippines takes steps to green the shorelines of its largest economic center. Consumer goods companies may think twice about their contribution to ocean pollution, while the largest tuna company in the world adopts more sustainable practices. The shipping sector also finds itself under pressure to reduce its 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.

PEMSEA Hosts Side Event On "Catalyzing Investments In SDG 14: Establishment Of A Strategic Ocean Investment Ecosystem" At United Nations Ocean Conference

Thousands of delegates from around the world converged on United Nations headquarters in New York City from June 5 - 9 for the UN Ocean Conference supporting implementation of SDG 14. PEMSEA partnered with UNDP, UNEP, The Economist, Credit Suisse and others to host a discussion on the need for innovative financial mechanisms to drive the transition to more sustainable blue economies and establishing a regional Ocean Investment Facility and Funds. PEMSEA was honored to have Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, deliver opening comments for the event.