One of the main thrusts of the work of PEMSEA is to assist the countries in the region in their search for innovative approaches to environmental management and improvement. PEMSEA continuously encourages the formulation and adoption of integrated approaches in managing coastal land and water uses as part of their respective state policies for national economic and social development. It also conducts cross-sector assessments of National Coastal and Marine Policy Development and encourages countries to share their experiences. This case study, sponsored by PEMSEA, is part of the above series of assessments. This study examines the challenges and rewards related to the development of a national coastal and marine (COMAR) policy in the People’s Republic of China, and to identify the elements of a model national COMAR policy and the requirements for its implementation.

It is the result of both good project design and innovative and adaptive management, which are producing commendable outcomes and beneficial social, economic and environmental impacts.

The Coastal Strategy of Danang City provides short- and long-term action programs designed to resolve complex issues that beset the coastal and marine environment and their resources through cross-sectoral cooperation. It specifically directs stakeholders to rationally exploit and use their coastal and marine resources and environment in accordance with common development objectives. The Strategy is integrative, systematic and practical, which ensures that appropriate policy and management interventions prescribed in the document will be carried out. The integration of capacity of relevant sectors/organizations, the linkage of related programs/projects/activities and the application of international and national experiences in related fields are important factors for achieving the common objective - the sustainable development of the coastal area of Danang.

The Manila Bay Coastal Strategy provides a comprehensive environmental management framework, targeted outcomes and a series of action programs involving the participation of both government and non-government sectors. This Coastal Strategy is a document that covers the social, economic and environmental aspects of Manila Bay in relation to people’s values, and threats - real or perceived - that impair those values. To turn this knowledge and concern into action, it is apparent that the combined effort of government and civil society are required. These efforts involve changing the attitude and behavior of people. This is no small task, and the Coastal Strategy takes on this challenge by tasking every level of society with the responsibility of managing the Bay. Most significantly, the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy provides a comprehensive environmental management framework, targeted outcomes and a series of actions programs involving the participation of both government and non-government sectors. The key to moving toward the shared vision is the development of partnerships among the stakeholders, and the synergy of efforts of many different players with different skills and perspectives. At the end of the day, any action program within the Coastal Strategy, whether taken up by an individual, a community or sector, represents a contribution to the realization of the shared vision for Manila Bay.

The initial risk assessment of Manila Bay was conducted as a preliminary step to the refined risk assessment. It provides a glimpse of environmental conditions in the Bay using available secondary data. It serves as a screening mechanism to identify priority environmental concerns in the Bay, identify data gaps and uncertainties and recommend areas for immediate management intervention or for further assessment.

This document focuses on two priority activities and contaminants in the Malacca Straits as identified in the publication Malacca Straits Initial Risk Assessment (1997), namely: (1) human health effects by exploring fish/seafood consumption and contamination of fish/seafood by metals, pesticides and hydrocarbons; and (2) ecological effects by exploring measured environmental concentrations for hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon composition and their impact on the ecosystem.

The Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas began operations in January 1994 and completed all major activities by December 1998. This report summarizes the progress made in achieving the Programme objective, as well as the establishment of important benchmarks. The report reviews progress made on meeting objectives, strengthening foundations, consolidating outputs and lessons learned, sharing experiences, the pilot phase extension, programme expenditures, and next steps.

This document is composed of two companion papers, the Framework for National Legislation on Marine Pollution Prevention and Management for East Asian Countries and Guidelines for National Marine Pollution Legislation for East Asian Countries. The Framework provides the features and obligations of international instruments, while the Guidelines provide the structure for and approach to national legislation.

This report provides a framework for the economic valuation and initial estimates of the total economic value of coastal and marine resources in the Straits of Malacca. Often, resources are appreciated only in terms of the direct market values they provide. Because non-use values and ecosystem services are not fully quantified in markets, they are often given little weight in policy-making. The undervaluation of resources results in conflicting policies, such as conversion of resource areas to other uses, and overexploitation by people who are not well-informed of the consequent impacts. Valuation of natural resources and the environment necessitates the estimation of benefits and costs of using these natural assets.