A Blue Ribbon Panel report spearheading a global strategy for aligning ocean health and human well-being has recently been released. The report, entitled Indispensable Ocean: Aligning Ocean Health and Human Well-Being, was released by the Blue Ribbon Panel on 16 October. The Blue Ribbon Panel received inputs from a number of external experts, including the East Asian Seas Council Chair Ambassador Mary Seet-Cheng, who presented the work of PEMSEA during a panel meeting in Singapore last June.

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — As a testament of its commitment to pursuing excellence and providing quality services, PEMSEA received its ISO 9001:2008 certification last October, adding confidence and credibility to the organization as it continues to champion sustainable development of the seas of East Asia.

 

In an external audit conducted by TÜV Rheinland last June at the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF), the auditors verified the compliance of the PRF Quality Management System and conformance of the PRF workflow to standard requirements and effectiveness.

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — PEMSEA will be hosting the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Targeted Workshop for Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters (IW) Projects scheduled on 4-6 December. The planned workshop aims to utilize knowledge management to transform good practices in integrated water resource management (IWRM), integrated coastal management (ICM) and integrated river basin and coastal area management (IRBCAM or ICARM) into investments and financing that will support the sustainable development of freshwater and marine ecosystems.

 

 

The 2013 NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Workshop on Marine Litter Management were successfully conducted from 24 to 26 October 2013 in Okinawa, Japan.

 

 

The Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre (POMRAC) and Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) have organized respectively their 11th Focal Points Meeting on 9-10 October 2013 in Tianjin, PR China and on 11-12 September 2013 in Toyama, Japan.

 

 

A NOWPAP representative attended the 15th Global Meeting of Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (GMRS) held in Montego Bay, Jamaica on 30 September – 1 October 2013. The Second Global Land-Ocean Connections Conference (GLOC-2) was held at the same venue on 2-4 October where work plans of three global partnerships (on marine litter, nutrients and wastewater) were discussed in detail.

 

 

Shima, Japan — The 12th annual forum of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) was a successful showcase of integrated coastal management (ICM) and its use in scaling up conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, including marine protected areas (MPAs).

 

 

The Sub-commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has extended the deadline for submission of abstracts for its Ninth International Scientific Symposium to 15 December.

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand — PEMSEA participated at the 34th Pacem in Maribus (Peace in the Oceans) Conference to contribute to discussions on current marine issues and challenges relevant to the event’s theme, "International Forum on Sustainable Governance of the Ocean."

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — In recognition of his valuable contribution to PEMSEA as a leader and mentor, Dr. Chua Thia-Eng was named as Chair Emeritus of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council during the 13th Executive Committee Meeting held on 28–29 October.