Countries in the East Asian Seas (EAS) region continue to take essential steps to assess their respective ocean economies and ocean health.

 

“Sustainable blue economy growth is central to the health of both coastal ecosystems and local economies in the region. The ongoing work of countries to better understand what drives ‘blue economy’ and how we account for it is critical”, said PEMSEA’s Executive Director, Stephen Adrian Ross.

 

 

Protection of our shared coasts and oceans takes center stage next month with World Oceans Day on June 8th and the gathering of delegates from around the world at the United Nations Headquarters for the UN Ocean Conference from June 5-9.

 

 

A landmark study released today by Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy examines the science and policy of “blue carbon” in East Asia and the opportunities for countries to advance their commitments to addressing climate change through the conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands.  

 

 

Thousands of delegates from around the world converged on United Nations headquarters in New York City from June 5 – 9 for the “United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14”. The conference aimed to be the game changer that will reverse the decline in the health of our ocean for people, planet and prosperity.

 

PEMSEA was pleased to participate in sessions throughout the conference, including contribution to the “Partnership Dialogue on Managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems”.

 

 

Congratulations to the photographers with the top 10 entries in the Ten Photos to Shake the World: "Our Oceans, Our Home" photo competition!

 

A special congratulations to this year's 3 winners, selected by an expert panel of environmental science, coastal management and photography judges:

 

1st prize: Simon Hilbourne

 

2nd prize: Jarrett Laabs

 

INDONESIAN YOUTH TAKE ON COASTAL AND OCEAN CHALLENGES:   
How PEMSEA’s small grant empowered young leaders to be part of the solution.

 

As a young Indonesian, Enggar Wardani grew up with the awareness that the health of the coasts and oceans in her archipelagic country was under threat. Front page headlines highlight any number of environmental issues that plague Indonesia’s seas, such as bleached coral reefs, coastal erosion and marine pollution. As a young woman, how can she be part of the solution?

 

New instruments and approaches for financing the conservation and protection of ecosystems are emerging seemingly every day. In East Asia, PEMSEA’s 11 Country Partners are seeking to move beyond traditional public financing to fully utilize a blend of both public and private finance to support sustainable development of coasts and oceans in the region. As part of its annual East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting, PEMSEA convened a panel of international experts for an Ocean Leadership Roundtable held July 26.

The National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK) joins PEMSEA as its 22nd Non-Country Partner. With the approval from the PEMSEA Executive Committee and the EAS Partnership Council, a signing ceremony took place during the 9th East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council from July 24-26, 2017, where PEMSEA Executive Director, Mr. Stephen Adrian Ross and MABIK President, Dr. Sangjin Kim signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the partnership and MABIK’s inclusion into the Council.

 

Makati, Philippines – From July 24 to 26, 2017, PEMSEA Country and Non-Country Partners convened for the 9th East Asian Seas Partnership Council, which tackled a number of policy matters that centered on three key messages: Collaboration, Sustainability, and Alignment with the Global Oceans Agenda.