Mindoro, Philippines — Two marine protected areas in the Verde Island Passage (VIP) were recognized in a nationwide competition as among the best managed in the country, making it to the top ten circle in a field of 117 contenders.

 

 

 

Incheon, RO Korea — In anticipation of the 11th Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), IUCN state members Bangladesh, India, Japan and RO Korea showcased national efforts in meeting the Aichi Targets of the CBD Strategic Plan at the 5th Asia RCF in Incheon. The plenary session saw IUCN members sharing an interactive learning space through which examples of policy interventions and countrywide initiatives to protect critical ecosystems were disseminated and discussed.

 

 

Seoul, RO Korea — On September 26th, the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute signed an MOU with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information on the joint use of science and technology information. The signing took place at the Seoul branch of KISTI.

 

 

Mindoro, Philippines — Bantay Dagat and Philippine National Police operatives caught a group of fishers doing illegal fishing in the waters of Calapan City over the weekend.

 

The apprehending team arrested eleven fishers engaged in compressor fishing, an illegal acitivity which causes destruction of marine resources and poses health risks to fishers. Confiscated from the violators were three boats, compressor equipment, fine mesh nets, and live aquarium fishes estimated to be worth PhP3,000.

 

 

Tianjin, PR China — The IOC/WESTPAC Coordinating Committee for the North-East Asian Regional-Global Ocean Observing System (NEAR-GOOS) concluded its 14th Session in Tianjin, China, 8-9 September 2011 with kind host of the National Marine Data & Information Service of China. The meeting reviewed the current operational status of NEAR-GOOS data exchange network, identified existing deficiencies and came up with suggestions on several concrete actions to be taken over the next intersessional period in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the network.

 

 

Busan, RO Korea — On 3-5 October 2011, the 13th Global Meeting of Regional Seas was held in Busan, RO Korea, hosted by NOWPAP.

 

Representatives of 10 Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, UNEP Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems Branch and GPA (Global Programme of Action for the Protection of Marine Environment from Land-based Activities) Coordinating Office participated in the meeting. The major issues discussed included:

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — PEMSEA released a new issue of Tropical Coasts that expounds on the challenges and good practices in Ocean and Coastal Governance; Habitat Protection, Restoration and Management; and Food Security and Livelihood Management.

 

The new issue features the discussions held during the International Conference on Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Development during the East Asian Seas Congress in Manila, Philippines, on 23-27 November 2009.

 

 

Seoul, RO Korea — NOWPAP coordinator attended the 16th Senior Officials Meeting of the Northeast Asia Sub-regional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC) on 1-2 September 2011 in Seoul, RO Korea.

 

As a one of the important regional cooperation mechanisms, NEASPEC has initiated and implemented several projects on nature conservation, trans-boundary air pollution, dust and sandstorms and eco-efficiency.

 

 

Toyama, Japan — The 9th Focal Points Meeting of the Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre of NOWPAP was held on 6-7 September 2011 in Toyama, Japan.

 

The meeting has reviewed the progress of the current activities and steps to be taken in order to finalize the projects till the end of 2011: