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.

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand — The enlarged session of WESTPAC Officers took place in Bangkok on 20 September 2012 with participation of the Chair, Vice Chairs of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific and invited experts.

 

 

Laguna, Philippines — Taxonomists, as well as fisheries and aquatic resources workers, from the ten ASEAN Member States, PR China, RO Korea, Japan and Mongolia will attend a training course to upgrade their skills on fish taxonomy. The course, which also aims to expand the network for taxonomical information of fishes in East and Southeast Asia, will be held on 5-11 November 2012 in Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand.

 

 

Sihanoukville, Cambodia — The Royal Government of Cambodia approved Decision No. 152 SSR on the Establishment and Function of the National Committee for Management and Development of Cambodian Coastal Area on 13 July 2012 to promote sustainable management of coastal areas through integrated planning and monitoring of development activities along the coasts. The decision was developed following the country's acceptance as a member of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World in May 2011.

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand — The Regional Scientific and Technical Capacity Building Workshop on the World Ocean Assessment (WOA), contributing to the UN Regular Process, was held on 17-19 September 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

The workshop was co-organized by COBSEA, NOWPAP, IOC/WESTPAC and GRID Arendal with financial support provided by UNEP, IOC/WESTPAC and Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN).