Phan Thiet, Vietnam — Vietnam's National Southern Oil Spill Response Center (NASOS) conducted a workshop on Establishing the Provincial Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan (OCPP) and Provincial Environmental Sensitivity Index Map (ESI-MP) in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan province on 5–7 October. This initiative is part of Vietnam’s commitment to support the Joint Statement and Framework Programme for Joint Oil Spill Preparedness and Response in the Gulf of Thailand.

 

 

Quezon City, Philippines — In preparation for PEMSEA's entry to its fourth phase in 2014, the 13th Executive Committee Meeting focused on the key actions needed to ensure smooth transition in operations and mechanisms and help strengthen the organization’s self-financing capacity.

 

 

Xiamen, PR China — The State Oceanic Administration of PR China (SOA) convened the PEMSEA Achievement Exchange Meeting and the Symposium on the 20th Anniversary of PEMSEA Implementation in China during the Xiamen World Ocean Week (XWOW) 2013 as a move to commemorate two decades of partnership between PEMSEA and China.

 

 

Xiamen, PR China — This year's Xiamen World Ocean Week (XWOW) held last 8–14 November focused on commitments to supporting an ocean-based blue economy in the East Asian Seas region and bolstering ties with partners in pursuit of future initiatives in marine cooperation.

 

 

Washington, DC, USA — In recognition of the role of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as organizations that were instrumental to its success, PEMSEA attended the recent GEF Council Meeting last 5 November 2013 to present its achievements in the East Asian Seas region for the past 20 years.

 

 

Bridgetown, Barbados — The Caribbean island nation of Barbados hosted over 200 delegates for the 7th Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters Conference (IWC7) from 28-31 October 2013. Organized by the GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN), the biennial event facilitated the sharing of experiences and good practices among GEF-supported initiatives on the sustainable management of transboundary waters.

 

 

Guangzhou, PR China — Bringing together regional experts in marine biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Capacity-building Workshop for South, East and Southeast Asia was held last 9–13 December 2013.

 

 

Toyama, Japan — The 18th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) was recently convened with delegates from NOWPAP member states, NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters and partners participating in the event.

 

 

Qingdao, PR China — The NOWPAP Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) recently organized a training workshop on remote sensing data analysis. Held on 21–25 October 2013, the training course was jointly sponsored by NOWPAP and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), in collaboration with the Ocean Remote Sensing Institute of the Ocean University of China and the Chinese National Environmental Monitoring Centre of the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

 

 

Tagaytay City, Philippines — PEMSEA and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) have commenced the development of an ecosystem nutrient health report for Laguna de Bay through an orientation workshop held last 12–13 December 2013. The two-day workshop gathered participants from the Philippines representing government agencies involved in the management of the country's largest lake.