KOEM & PEMSEA: Partners in Assessing Coastal & Marine Monitoring

 

Quezon City, Philippines — The Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM) headed by its Vice President, Dr. Kim Hyun-Jong met with PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) technical staff to review and discuss the progress in the implementation of the research project on "Monitoring and Analysis of Waters in the East Asian Seas relating to Climate Change" on 3 September 2012 at the PEMSEA Office Building.

 

Results of the initial desktop review and assessment of the status of coastal and marine water quality monitoring focusing on the Philippines and Manila Bay were presented during the meeting. The scope, expected outputs and outcomes, and other details on project implementation were also discussed.

 

The project aims to determine the existing initiatives and capacities on coastal and marine water quality monitoring in a number of PEMSEA Partner Countries, namely: Cambodia, PR China, Indonesia, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Viet Nam, and selected ICM and pollution hotspot sites, namely: Bali, Batangas, Chonburi, Danang, Sihanoukville, Xiamen, Bohai Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, Jakarta Bay and Manila Bay. The project will try to identify gaps, needs and challenges in coastal and marine water quality monitoring programs in these countries and sites. Results of the study will aid in identifying areas for potential collaboration with KOEM and other institutions in strengthening regional capacity in coastal and marine water quality monitoring.

 

Together with KOEM's Vice President were Dr. Kim Dong-Hwa, Mr. Song Jong-Seok, and Mr. Kim Yunil of the Climate and Marine Environment and International Cooperation Teams of KOEM. Dr. Won Tae Shin, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Ocean Inc. of RO Korea, was also present during the meeting. The PRF was represented by Mr. Stephen Adrian Ross, Mr. Guo Yinfeng, Ms. Cristine Ingrid Narcise, Ms. Daisy Padayao, and Ms. Jane Desiree Andal.

 

The project strengthens partnership between PEMSEA and KOEM, and foster long-term cooperation in coastal and ocean governance in support of SDS-SEA implementation in the EAS region. The project will support implementation of the Regional SDS-SEA Implementation Plan 2012-2016, particularly the action programs identified under Target 4 on monitoring and evaluation and Target 5 on capacity development and knowledge management.

 

KOEM is the newest Non-Country Partner of PEMSEA, having signed on 11 July 2012 at the Special EAS Partnership Council Meeting held in Changwon City, RO Korea during the EAS Congress 2012. KOEM has significant expertise on coastal and marine water quality monitoring and is responsible in gathering information and enabling data sharing on coastal and marine water quality in RO Korea, providing basis and scientific support for marine environment conservation and management.