Marine Debris or Marine Litter is one of the top priorities in the current global agenda. The issue has been included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under Goal 14 Life Below Water, UNGA as well as UNEA agenda and many other global initiatives. Marine Litter is believed to cause damages to marine life to the extent that some species may go extinct in few decades. Marine litter issue is particularly significant in the East Asian Seas region since the economy of the region is growing fast as the global growth hub. In this, ASEAN countries determined to address this global issue in concerted efforts. As the result, the 1st ASEAN Conference on Reducing Marine Debris in ASEAN Region was organized on 22-23 November 2017 in Phuket, Thailand and various action plans have formulated in the countries of the region.

As oceans are interconnected, marine debris issue should be addressed in a concerted effort around the globe. RO Korea is a leading country in addressing marine litter issue and wish to contribute in mitigating the impact of marine debris. Through this workshop, countries strategies on marine debris will be presented and possible establishment of a network of marine litter research and monitoring in the region will be discussed. Enhancing public awareness and education relating to marine litter around the EAS region will be also discussed.

The East Asian Seas region recognizes the role of youth engagement to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global ocean agenda. Themed “Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda: Active and Engaged Youth”, the Fifth EAS Youth Forum featured peer-to-peer learning discussions, team-building and creative sessions to empower the next generation of young champions for the oceans and coasts. The Youth Forum intended to enhance youth’s understanding on the environment’s current situation and appreciation of the role they can play in sustainable development and the global ocean agenda. The forum gathered 70 youth from EAS countries, namely Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam to learn and interact with a roster of high-profile speakers and leaders in ocean and coastal management.

Specifically, the YF5 aimed to:

1. Launch the PEMSEA Youth Programme and the PEMSEA Network of Young Leaders (PNYL);
2. Provide a conducive platform for mutual exchange of knowledge, experience and skills in sustainable ocean and coastal management;
3. Strengthen the youth’s capacity to develop and/or lead initiatives at the local, national, or regional level;
4. Sustain and expand the network of young people empowered to take actions in protecting the region’s oceans and coasts through the PNYL and its country hubs;
5. Produce a clear youth commitment to achieving sustainable ocean management through the youth declaration; and
6. Promote the youth’s crucial role in achieving the UN SDGs, particularly those contributing to the global ocean agenda.
    

This session focused on interdisciplinary research, which increases understanding of the economic, social, and ecological systems, and how it should, and can be used to support marine planning, management, and future sustainable development and blue economy.

The session aimed to:

• Present different approaches to undertaking blue economy-relevant interdisciplinary research;
• Describe innovative decision support tools that are being developed from this research; and
• Discuss examples of how and where these approaches and tools are, or could be used across the multiple and interacting blue economy sectors (e.g., renewable energy, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, recreation and leisure) to promote sustainability of ecosystem services that underpin these sectors, and are impacted by them.
   

EAS Congress 2018 Daily Bulletin for 28 November 2018.

EAS Congress 2018 Daily Bulletin for 27 November 2018.

The PNLG Forum 2017 was hosted by the Local Government of Sanya City, Hainan, PR China, from December 5-6, 2017 at the Sanya Visun Royal Yacht Hotel. With the theme, “Conservation to Ecological Restoration of Coastal Areas for Blue Economy” the PNLG Forum gathered over 120 delegates from 31 local governments in 9 countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, RO Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam), as well as representatives from the PNLG associate members (Coastal and Ocean Management Institute and First Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanic Administration of China).

The Regional Planning Workshop on the Development of a State of Oceans and Coasts (SOC) Report for the Seas of East Asia was held on 31 March – 1 April 2016 at the PEMSEA Building in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Compound in Quezon City, Philippines. Representatives from 15 international organizations and regional programmes participated, and shared their views and perspectives on blue economy and the SOC report. They provided suggestions on key topics and indicators to be included in the SOC report, and pointed out the issues, challenges, solution options and examples of good practices. Available information and studies from their respective agencies and other sources of information were also discussed.

The RegionalAgreement was reached on the outline of the SOC report. The participants will share information and their expertise to provide technical guidance and contribute to the development of the regional SOC report. The next steps include: (a) the development of the template, with Philippines as the pilot country; (b) organizing national teams for the development of National SOC reports; (c) organizing a regional Technical Working Group; (d) presentation of draft SOC reports at the Blue Economy Conference in November 2017 to get feedback; and (e) presentation and dissemination of SOC reports at the next East Asian Seas Congress in 2018.