The Special Partnership Council Meeting was held at Ocean Ballroom of Furama Resort Hotel, Da Nang, Viet Nam on November 18, 2015. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam hosted the event, which was attended by representatives from 11 Country Partners and 16 Non-Country Partners. Representatives from the UNDP, UNEP, the GEF, the World Bank, CBD Secretariat, WorldFish, GIZ, and several universities also participated in the meeting.

The participants were welcomed by Ambassador Mary Seet-Cheng, Chair of EAS Partnership Council, Mr. Chu Pham Ngoc Hien, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment of Vietnam and Mr. Stephen Adrian Ross, Executive Director of PEMSEA. Dr. Chua Thai-Eng, Chair Emeritus of the EAS Partnership Council, delivered a keynote on legacies of PEMSEA and future directions. The meeting witnessed the partnership development of PEMSEA with signing of agreements with Burapha University (Thailand), Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), National University of Timor-Leste, Oriental University of Timor-Leste and Ocean College of Zhejiang University (China) to become PEMSEA ICM Learning Centres. PEMSEA also signed an MOU with DPR Korea to expand ICM programs in the country. UNDP, the GEF, OPRI-SPF, the World Bank, CBD Secretariat, ACB and WorldFish made statements on the accomplishments of PEMSEA, opportunities of the organizational development and future areas of collaboration under the framework of the SDS-SEA 2015.

The Seventh East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Princesa Garden Island Resort, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines from 23 to 25 June 2015. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines co-hosted the Meeting with assistance from the Palawan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office. The Meeting was attended by representatives from 10 Country Partners and 6 Non-Country Partners. Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The World Bank participated in the Project Steering Committee Meetings for Scaling up the Implementation of Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia and Applying Knowledge Management to Scale up Partnership Investments for Sustainable Development of LMEs of East Asia and their Coasts, respectively.

The Partnership Council focused on the following key issues: (a) Updating of the SDS-SEA, setting of post-2015 Targets, and Ministerial document; (c) the East Asian Seas Congress and Ministerial Forum 2015; (d) PEMSEA’s progress towards becoming a self-sustaining international organization; and (e) Collaborative Planning, among others. 

The Sixth East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center, Makati, Philippines from 23 to 25 June 2014. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines co-hosted the Meeting. The Meeting was attended by representatives from 9 Country Partners, 11 Non-Country Partners, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and an observer from Thailand. The Partnership Council focused on the following critical issues: (a) Developing PEMSEA's Brand; (b) Updating of the SDS-SEA and setting of post-2015 Targets; (c) PEMSEA's progress towards becoming a self-sustaining international organization; (d) the East Asian Seas Congress and Ministerial Forum 2015; and (e) Knowledge Management, among others. This publication summarizes the proceedings of the meeting.

The Fifth (5th) East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Diamond Hotel, Manila, Philippines, on 9–11 July 2013. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines hosted the Meeting. The Meeting was attended by representatives from 9 Country Partners, 12 Non-Country Partners, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and observers from Thailand, IPIECA and University of Queensland. The Council focused on the following major issues: (a) transformation of PEMSEA; (b) collaborative planning among Country and Non-Country Partners and other organizations for SDS-SEA implementation; (c) updating of the SDS-SEA and its strategic targets and implementation plan; and (d) EAS Congress and Ministerial Forum 2015. Overall, the Council emphasized the need for strengthened engagement and ownership by both Country and Non-Country Partners to ensure the success of transforming PEMSEA into a self-sustaining regional organization for SDS-SEA implementation. This publication summarizes the proceedings of the meeting.

The Special East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Amoris A, Pullman Hotel, Changwon City, Republic of Korea, on 11 July 2012. The City Government of Changwon and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) of RO Korea hosted the Meeting.

The Meeting was attended by the members of the Executive Committee. Representatives from nine (9) PEMSEA Country Partners were in attendance, namely: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. A representative from Thailand was present as an observer. Representatives from 14 Non-Country Partners were in attendance, namely: ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB); Coastal Management Center (CMC); International EMECS Center; International Ocean Institute (IOI); Korea Maritime Institute (KMI); Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI)1; Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP); Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF); Oil Spill Response Ltd. (OSRL); PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG); Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML); GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP); United Nations Environment Programme Global Programme of Action (UNEP GPA); and Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME).

Representatives from the UNDP Manila and UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok were present on behalf of the implementing agency. Representative from the GEF was present on behalf of the funding agency. A representative from the World Bank was present as a sponsoring agency. Representatives from Bogor Agricultural University; Sulu Celebes Sea Sustainable Fisheries Management; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission served as observers. The PEMSEA Resource Facility served as the Secretariat for the Meeting.

The Fourth East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Novotel Ambassador Busan Hotel, Busan City, Republic of Korea, from 11 to 14 July 2011. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of RO Korea hosted the Meeting and the City Government of Busan and the Korea Maritime Institute co-organized the Meeting. The Meeting was attended by representatives from ten PEMSEA Country Partners, namely: Cambodia; Indonesia; Japan; Lao PDR; PR China; Philippines; RO Korea; Singapore; Timor-Leste and Vietnam. A representative from Thailand was present as an observer. Representatives from nine Non-Country Partners were in attendance, namely: Coastal Management Center (CMC); International Ocean Institute (IOI); Korea Maritime Institute (KMI); Northwest Pacific Action Plan of UNEP (NOWPAP); Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF); Oil Spill Response Limited (Oil Spill Response); Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML); UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea Project (YSLME); and UNEP GPA. Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Manila and the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok were present on behalf of the Implementing Agency and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Representatives from the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM) and the Changwon City Government of RO Korea served as observers. The PEMSEA Resource Facility served as the Secretariat for the Meeting.

The Third East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dandong, Liaoning Province, PR China, from 26 to 29 July 2010. The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) hosted the Meeting. The Meeting was attended by representatives from ten PEMSEA Partner Countries, namely: Cambodia, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, PR China, Philippines, RO Korea, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. A representative from Thailand was present as an observer. Ten representatives from Non-Country Partners were in attendance, namely: Coastal Management Center (CMC); International EMECS Center; IOC/WESTPAC; International Ocean Institute (IOI); Korea Maritime Institute (KMI); Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP); Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF); Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML); PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) and UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea LME Project. Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Manila and the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok were present on behalf of the Implementing Agency and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In addition, a representative from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the Executing Agency for the GEF/UNDP Project on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia was present, as was a consultant for the GEF IW Stocktaking Project. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) served as the Secretariat for the Meeting.

The second East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Toranomon Pastoral Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, from 14 to 17 July 2008. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) of Japan hosted the Meeting. The Meeting was attended by delegates from PEMSEA Partner countries namely: Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, as well as delegates from non-State Partners namely: Conservation International (CI); Coastal Management Center (CMC); International EMECS Center; IOC/WESTPAC; International Ocean Institute (IOI); Korea Maritime Institute (KMI); Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP); Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF); Oil Spill Response and East Asia Response Limited (OSRL/EARL); Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML); and UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea LME Project. Observers represented at the Meeting were: the Government of Thailand; the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG); and the UNEP COBSEA Secretariat. The GEF Implementing Agency was represented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Manila and the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) served as the Secretariat.

The East Asian Seas Partnership Council is established in accordance with the Partnership Operating Arrangements for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). The Inaugural Meeting of the EAS Partnership Council was held at the Huandao Tide Hotel, Haikou City, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China, on 16 December 2006. The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China hosted the Meeting.