This report examines sustainable financing mechanisms for measures to prevent and manage ship-based, transboundary pollution in the Straits of Malacca. Ship-based pollution includes not only oil spills but also garbage, plastics, oil, grease, sludge and other wastes. The Straits of Malacca are among the world’s busiest waterways, operating conditions for vessels are very difficult and accidents are common. Further, many important ecosystems/natural resources in the Straits are vulnerable to pollution, such as mangroves, corals, fish and beaches, and resource-dependent activities such as fishing and coastal tourism and recreation.

The last two decades saw countries in the East Asian region taking action to reduce and avoid environmental threats. It is apparent however that existing national and regional efforts and still lacking. This report provides innovative frameworks that highlight alternative approaches to marine pollution management. The paradigms presented here are results of years of project experience and ranges from perception to new investments and partnerships in mitigating pollution. The 1997 report has been prepared under the theme "Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas: A Paradigm Shift in Concept, Approach and Methodology". The paradigm shift outlined in this report touches both the abstract and the practical aspects of the Regional Programme, ranging from changes in perception, to transformation in institutional arrangements, to new investments and partnerships in monitoring, mitigating and avoiding pollution.

This study focuses on the economic analysis of benefits and costs of management actions for resource preservation and pollution prevention, particularly those affecting tourism in the Malacca Straits. As a first exercise towards valuation of recreational benefits provided by the coastal and marine resources in the Straits, the benefits transfer method (BTM) is adopted. The benefit and cost estimates of the management options considered in this study are likewise adopted from other studies. The results of this study therefore, present broad orders of magnitude of potential net benefits, which may be sufficient to make an opinion about the advisability of a project or a program. The values can then be used as inputs to policy-making.

This paper focuses on the lessons learned regarding navigational safety and marine pollution management issues in the Malacca/Singapore Straits as well as the cooperation and collaboration among the littoral States—Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore—in dealing with such issues. The paper is intended to support the enhancement of environmental management programs in the Straits and to assist with the transfer of good practices and experience from the Malacca/Singapore Straits to other subregional sea areas in the East Asian region.

The assessment of impacts of hazardous wastes, particularly that of pesticides, is an important activity for the environmental management of coastal zones. This report describes the results of an assessment conducted in the Batangas Bay Region, Philippines and in the Xiamen Seas, China. Pesticides with the highest risk as well as trends and approximate concentrations have been identified.

This is a report on marine pollution legislation and regulations of nine countries in the East Asian region as well as their adoption and implementation of international conventions relating to marine pollution. During the past few years there has been some development in the ratification of conventions and enactment of legislation relating to marine pollution. Nonetheless, the present record of most countries in the East Asian region still leaves much to be desired. The report is envisioned as a step towards better understanding and further development of marine pollution legislation.

This publication intends to provide an environmental profile of the Malacca Straits with special reference to marine pollution; compile the existing policies, strategies, practices and initiatives taken by the littoral States, regional and international organizations with regard to the management of marine pollution, arising from both land- and sea-based sources and activities; and prepare an information reference for use in a risk assessment appraisal of the Malacca Straits.

This technical report contains a brief description of the contingent valuation methodology; the survey design and process, including the formulation of questionnaires, selection of sample, sites and enumerators; survey administration; analysis and results. The survey procedures have been published in a separate manual as a capacity building and management tool for ICM practitioners.

The initial risk assessment of the Malacca Straits is focused on the effects of land-based and sea-based activities, and the contaminants deriving from them, on living and non-living resources of the Straits of Malacca, including ecological, human and societal components. The Malacca Straits Environmental Profile (1996) was the primary resource document for the initial risk assessment. The Profile was completed as part of the Malacca Straits Demonstration Project, a component of the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas. The Profile provides an inventory of natural resources in the Straits with special reference to pollution risks, compiles existing management policies, strategies, practices and initiatives taken by major players, and identifies pollution sources and activities.