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.

The 1996 Annual Report of the Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas has been prepared under the theme, "From Planning to Action". Recalling that the overall objective of the Programme is to support the efforts of participating governments in the prevention and management of marine pollution at both the national and subregional levels on a long-term and self-reliant basis, the theme voices the essence of work which has been undertaken during the year. The report reviews some of the issues and challenges that were involved in implementing the Regional Programme. The experience and lessons learned have provided a better appreciation among stakeholders of why and how integrated coastal management is applied in the coastal area, the social and economic opportunities that are afforded as a result of marine pollution initiatives and the costs and benefits of partnerships between government and private sector.

This bi-annual report (1994-1995) aims to document the progress made in the covered years in the implementation of the programme. Many of the approaches, methodologies and experiences as well as the lessons learned from the successes and failures could be useful for the improvement of the programme and new initiatives.