Dili, Timor-Leste — Despite being a young and small country, Timor-Leste has shown great commitment to initiatives in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). Like its neighbors in the region, Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), began laying the foundation for ICM scaling up as a major step toward sustainability of marine and coastal environment and resources in this newly developing nation.

 

 

Jakarta, Indonesia — This year, Indonesia has made big steps toward implementing Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) under the framework of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) that will help strike a good balance between environmental preservation and economic potential for the archipelagic nation's seas and coasts.

 

 

Nha Trang, Vietnam — The Sub-commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) will hold its Ninth International Scientific Symposium on 22-25 April 2014 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. The event will be hosted by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and co-organized by the VAST Institute of Oceanography and the National IOC Committee for Vietnam.

 

 

Phuket, Thailand — During a series of national workshops held in the Gulf of Thailand, the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping initiative was met with positive response and appreciation from relevant government and nongovernment agencies, including private oil companies.

 

 

Plymouth, United Kingdom — Following on from the success of AMEMR 2011, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is pleased to announce that the Fourth Advances in Marine Ecosystem Modelling Research Symposium is scheduled to be held in Plymouth, United Kingdom on 30 June–3 July 2014.

 

 

 

Batangas, Philippines — PEMSEA is currently working with the Provincial Government of Batangas through the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) and three academic partners — De La Salle Lipa, Batangas State University and Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas — in laying the foundation for the Batangas Bay Watershed Rehabilitation Project.

 

 

Tagaytay City, Philippines – The ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs), Southeast Asia's best protected areas, will now have a trademark of its own.

 

After receiving more than 300 entries from ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) officially unveiled the winning logo entry during the Fourth AHP Conference on 1 October 2013 in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

 

 

Sihanoukville, Cambodia — As the sole deep water port in Cambodia, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port is a rising hub for trade and transportation not only in the country but also in the Gulf of Thailand region. The increasing importance of this international seaport has led to a commitment to improving its management practices that will ensure the health and safety of port personnel and reduce the impact of port operations to the environment.

 

 

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.