The following priority programme activities were identified by the member states of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) immediately after its establishment in 1994. These activities either have been completed or are being carried out by NOWPAP Regional Activity Cetres (RACs):

    Establishment of a comprehensive database and information management system;

    Survey of national environmental legislation, objectives, strategies and policies;

    Establishment of a collaborative, regional monitoring programme (carried out by CEARAC and POMRAC together);

    Development of effective measures for regional cooperation in marine pollution preparedness
       and response;

    Establishment of regional activity centres and their networks.

After the establishment of four Regional Activity Centres (RACs) and their networks in 2000-2002, the RACs have been carried out numerous activities; some of the outcomes are as follows:

    Integrated Report on Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB);

    Countermeasures against HABs in the NOWPAP Region;

    Integrated Report on Remote Sensing Applications for Marine Environment Monitoring;

    First NEAR-GOOS - NOWPAP Joint Training Course on Remote Sensing Data Analysis

    Eutrophication Monitoring Guidelines by Remote Sensing;

    Regional Database on Institutions;

    Regional Database on Individual Experts;

    Regional Database on Geographic Information Systems (GIS);

    Regional Database on Remote Sensing Applications;

    Regional Database on Marine Litter;

    Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan with Extended Geographical Coverage (Click here and go to 'Contingency Plan' > 'Geographical Coverage');

    Regional Reports on Shoreline Clean-up, Sensitivity Mapping and Dispersant Applications (Click here and go to 'Publication' > 'Technical Reports');

    Regional Overview on Atmospheric Deposition of Contaminants to the Marine and Coastal Environment;

    Regional Overview on River and Direct Inputs of Contaminants to the Marine and Coastal        Environment.

Since the 10th Intergovernmental Meeting (2005), new activities have been initiated by the RACs such as:

    Regional and National Reports on Marine Biodiversity Data and Information;

    Regional Overview and National Reports on Marine and Coastal Nature Reserves;

    Internet Communication System for information on marine environment quality;

    Regional Contingency Plan for Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) as
       an integral part of the already existing oil spill contingency plan (Click here and go to 'Contingency Plan' > 'NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan');

    Integrated Coastal Zone and River Basin Management (ICARM): on-going;

    State of Marine Environment Reporting (SOMER).

Several activities have been / are being implemented jointly by several Regional Activity Centres and the Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU):

    UNEP-initiated global assessment of marine and coastal biodiversity

NOWPAP RCU has recruited Dr. Mark Walton as a consultant to implement a rapid assessment, and the input prepared by the consultant will be included in the UNEP global outlook on marine and coastal biodiversity, which will be launched at the CBD COP-10. Main part of Dr. Walton report is also available as NOWPAP brochure and poster to be distributed at major regional and global meetings in 2010-2011, including CBD COP-10.

    Long term biodiversity assessment

NOWPAP RCU has prepared several proposals to implement long-term biodiversity assessment in the region which were submitted (through different proponents) to Mitsui & Co. Ltd. Environment Fund, Toyota Foundation and Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). NOWPAP RCU has contacted national experts in NOWPAP member states in order to establish working teams, select project leaders and project proponents.

    State of Marine Environment report (SOMER)

POMRAC has prepared the first comprehensive review of marine environmental problems in the region based on the analysis of data and information from different sources in 2007. By following the decision of the 14th NOWPAP IGM, the second “SOMER” for the NOWPAP region will be prepared in 2011-2012.

    Marine Litter Activities

Marine Litter Activities (MALITA) has been completed successfully in 2007 due to joint efforts made by RACs and RCU and strong support by the member states. The next stage of this activity is the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) which is being implemented since 2008.

    Regional Overview of Legal Aspects of the Protection and Management of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region

This overview was updated by national experts and published in 2007.