The Regional Workshop entitled “PNLC Regional Workshop: From Knowledge to Action: Scaling Blue Carbon Initiatives in the East Asian Region” was hosted by the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) and held in Antipolo, Philippines, from 25–26 March 2026.

The workshop brought together 43 participants including experts, speakers, and representatives from PNLC member institutions from 8 countries across the region, namely Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Co-sponsored by the Luce Foundation, University of Hawai‘i, University of the Philippines–Marine Science Institute, the Ministry of Environment Indonesia, and the PNLC, and organized by the PNLC Secretariat in coordination with the PEMSEA Resource Facility.

The 5th PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) General Assembly was held at the Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, on 27 March 2026. The meeting served as a strategic platform to review PNLC accomplishments, discuss future workplans, and strengthen regional collaboration in coastal and marine management.

A total of 20 out of 25 PNLC member institutions participated in the General Assembly, representing countries across the East Asian Seas region, including Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The meeting brought together experts, researchers, and institutional representatives to exchange knowledge and align priorities.

The General Assembly covered the following key agenda items: (1) Opening of the meeting and approval of the Meeting Agenda; (2) Presentation of PNLC Accomplishments in 2024-2025 and Workplan for 2026; (3) The PEMSEA Regional Strategic Framework: Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia Implementation Plan 2023-2030 and the Role of PNLC in Implementation; (4) Collaboration with PEMSEA Partners and Projects; (5) Other Business, including announcements by PNLC Members; (6) Next Steps; and, (7) A Special Session by the SKLMEH on Conservation and Management of Marine Biodiversity.

The meeting also highlighted ongoing and upcoming collaborative initiatives, which included presentations on the Effectively Managing Networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Large Marine Ecosystems of the ASEAN Region (ASEAN ENMAPS) Project and the Reducing Pollution and Preserving Environmental Flows in the East Asian Seas through the Implementation of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project. The IPB University introduced the PKSPL Regional Summer Course on Marine Litter Management, Policy, and Integrated Coastal Governance in the East Asian Seas Region. Dr. Brian Szuster of the University of Hawai’i (UH) introduced a project concept on a Blue Carbon Initiative for the PNLC which was conceptualized and inspired by the PNLC Blue Carbon Workshops co-sponsored by UH.

In addition, a special session on marine biodiversity conservation was conducted by SKLMEH, featuring expert presentations and discussions on integrated approaches, global monitoring programs, and innovative tools such as eDNA for marine conservation.

The 35th PEMSEA Executive Committee Meeting was held on 31 March 2026 at the PEMSEA Resource Facility in Quezon City, Philippines, attended by EAS Partnership Council Chair Atty. Jonas Leones, Intergovernmental Session Chair Mr. Le Dai Thang, Intergovernmental Session Co-Chair Dr. Xinwei Yu, Technical Session Chair Dr. Suk-Jae Kwon, Technical Session Co-Chair Dr. Kazumi Wakita, observers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines and the China PEMSEA Center, and PRF staff led by Executive Director Ms. Aimee T. Gonzales. The EC approved the revised schedule for PRF Executive Director recruitment and the updated 18th EAS Partnership Council Meeting agenda (22–23 July 2026, Singapore), noted and endorsed the 2025 Audited Financial Statements reflecting a clean audit and total receipts of USD 4.16 million, and endorsed the 2025 Accomplishment Report and the 2026–2027 PRF Workplan and Budget with projected receipts of USD 6.7 million. Key strategic decisions included endorsing a phased re-engagement approach with Malaysia, Thailand, and Brunei as formal PEMSEA country partners; approving the PEMSEA Youth Engagement Readiness and Pilot Program; endorsing the Marine Protected Areas in the East Asian Seas Report; and noting updates on the Blue Carbon Program, Organizational Capacity Assessment, and Business Development and Resource Mobilization initiatives. Under other business, the EC endorsed Indonesia as host of the EAS Congress 2027, called for nominations for the vacant EAS PC Co-Chair position, and approved the establishment of an annual PEMSEA Day.

The Blue Wave Conference: Youth Empowerment for Ocean Science and Action – Opening Ceremony marked the first Youth Conference held in Shenzhen, China, on 30–31 October 2025. The event was organized by China Ocean Mineral Resources R & D Association (COMRA), Global Ocean Capital Promotion Council of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Advanced Institute for Ocean Research, Southern University of Science and Technology (AIOR, SUSTech)/ Shenzhen Ocean University Preparatory Office, Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), and Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme.

The PEMSEA Network of Young Leaders (PNYL) session featured four speakers and two reactors, namely: Mr. Akhmad Nurhijayat from the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies (CCMRS), IPB University, Dr. Sim Wei Hung Clarence from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Ms. Keomanivone PHOUTHAKHANTY from Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Lao PDR, Mr. Leo Anthony Castro from Mangroves Matter PH, Dr. Shenghui Li from Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China, and Dr. Xuan Zhu from Research Center for Pacific Island Countries (RCPIC) of Liaocheng University.

The 2025 PNLC Executive Committee (PNLC EC) Meeting was organized by PNLC Secretariat on 15 September 2025 in Bogor, Indonesia. It was participated by Prof. Yonvitner of the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies of the IPB University (CCMRS-IPB) and President of the PNLC, Dr. Fang Qinhua, Deputy Director of the Coastal and Ocean Management Institute of Xiamen University (COMI-XU) and Vice-President of the PNLC, and Ms. Aimee T. Gonzales, PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) Executive Director as members of the PNLC Executive Committee. Ms. Isdahartatie PNLC secretariat Coordinator/ CCMRS-IPB University, Ms. Nancy Bermas from PRF, Francesca Cortez (PRF Secretariat Assistant) and Lusita Meilana, PNLC Secretariat staff. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Yonvitner. Ms. Isdahartati served as the Secretariat of the meeting.
 

The following supporting documents are annexed to these proceedings:

• Annex 1: Meeting Agenda / Program
• Annex 2: Links to the meeting documents, presentation and photos
• Annex 3: List of participants
   

The Expanded East Asian Seas (EAS) Executive Committee convened its 34th Executive Committee Meeting on 21 October 2025 online via Zoom. The meeting was attended by EAS Partnership Council Chair Attorney Jonas Leones; Intergovernmental Session Chair Mr. Le Dai Thang; Intergovernmental Session Co-Chair Dr. Xinwei Yu; Technical Session Chair Dr. Suk-Jae Kwon; and Technical Session Co-Chair Dr. Wakita Kazumi. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF), led by Executive Director (ED) Ms. Aimee T. Gonzales served as Secretariat to the meeting. PEMSEA Country Partners in attendance included national focal points and representatives from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam. Non-Country Partners present included representatives from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Ipieca GISEA, Oil Spill Response Limited, National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, International Center for Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS), PEMSEA Network of Local Governments  and Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, among others. Online observers included staff from the PEMSEA Resource Facility and UNDP.

The 2025 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum, with the theme, “Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Blue Economy: Linking Climate, Nature and Energy,” was organized by PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, in collaboration with PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Indonesia, PEMSEA Resource Facility, and hosted by Jakarta Province, Indonesia. The forum was held on September 16-18, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia.

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).