Changwon, RO Korea — Joining PEMSEA country and non-country partners, NOWPAP participated in the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2012 on 16-20 July in Changwon city, Republic of Korea.

 

NOWPAP representatives attended the Congress plenary sessions and parallel workshops carrying the theme "Building Blue Economy: Strategy, Opportunities and Partnerships in the Seas of East Asia" as well as the Partnership Council meeting and the Ministerial Forum which adopted the Sustainable Development for the Seas of East Asia Implementation Plan (2012-2016).

 

 

 

Changwon City, RO Korea — On 12 July 2012, Ministers from ten Countries of the East Asian Seas (EAS) region signed the Changwon Declaration towards an Ocean-Based Blue Economy: Moving Ahead with the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia. The signing took place during the 4th Ministerial Forum in Changwon City, RO Korea as part of the East Asian Seas Congress 2012 from 9-13 July.

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — The Government of the Philippines and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) signed an agreement which formalizes the hosting of PEMSEA in the Philippines. The signing occurred last 31 July 2012 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Pasay City, Philippines.

 

The Agreement was signed by Hon. Albert F. Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Prof. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility.

 

 

Beijing, PR China — NOWPAP Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) and Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC) held their Focal Points meetings on 14-18 May and 23-24 May 2012 in Yeosu and Beijing, respectively.

 

At the MERRAC Focal Points Meeting, the following major activities were decided to be carried out for the next two years among other routine tasks:

 

 

IOI joined PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) at the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO), Changwon City, RO Korea from 9-13th July 2012.

 

 

Manila, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) expects stronger cooperation with the Partnership in Environmental Management for Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) as it formalized the location of its international headquarters in the country.

 

In a statement, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said they are now looking at a closer cooperation with the PEMSEA and all its partners in ensuring the protection and development of marine and coastal resources not only in the Philippines, but in the entire East Asian region.

 

 

Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Executive Director Raphael P.M. Lotilla signed on July 31 the Agreement establishing the PEMSEA Resource Facility Center which will be housed within the compound of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City.

 

 

Yeosu, RO Korea — In conjunction with the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012, the 4th NOWPAP joint oil spill exercise was conducted on 18 May 2012.

 

Jointly organized by Korea Coast Guard and China Maritime Safety Administration under the NOWPAP Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan, with participation of about 30 vessels, boats and aircrafts, the exercise demonstrated the preparedness of NOWPAP member states to major oil spills at sea. Three previous NOWPAP joint oil spill exercises have been conducted in Russia, China and Japan respectively since 2006.

 

Bangkok, Thailand — The workshop on coral reef restoration techniques in the Western Pacific was hosted by the Department of Marine Science, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand from 21 to 23 September 2012. The training received financial support from the Japanese Government and was co-sponsored by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (Thailand), JSPS Asian CORE Program and Chulalongkorn University.