2013 NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup and Workshop At the 18th Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) held on 10-12 April 2013 in Kobe, Japan, a proposal submitted by Okinawa Ocean Culture & Environment Action Network in collaboration with NOWPAP on promoting International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was accepted for funding. Taking advantage of generous contribution from the Japanese government as well as APN funding, the 2013 NOWPAP ICC and Workshop on Marine Litter Management will be organized in Okinawa, Japan on 24-26 October 2013. Expected participants to the event are from each NOWPAP member state, including marine litter focal points, representatives of central and local authorities, research institutions and universities, non-governmental and other relevant organizations, preferably involved in the implementation of NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter or waste management. NOWPAP neighbouring countries and partner organizations dealing with marine litter issues will be also invited.  (released on 17 April 2013) Marine Litter Forum NOWPAP representative attended the Forum on 14-15 March in Tokyo which was organized by JEAN (Japan Environmental Action Network). The Forum reviewed the implementation of the ‘Law for the Promotion of Marine Litter Disposal’ enacted in 2009 in Japan and the role of NGOs in raising public awareness on marine litter and galvanizing local actions, as demonstrated by JEAN and Ocean Conservancy (OC) involvement in the implementation of a Japanese government-sponsored project dealing with the 2011 tsunami-generated marine debris. Using the opportunity, the NOWPAP representative had a group talk with JEAN, OC, Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN) and Okinawa Ocean Culture and Environment Action Network (OCEAN) to share an idea of creating a webpage at the NOWPAP website to highlight the NGOs efforts in the region. As the NGO representatives welcomed such idea, the webpage has been created (http://www.nowpap.org/ML-NGOs.php). They were also updated on the preparation of the NOWPAP ICC and the workshop in Okinawa in October 2013 including a NGO session suggested.    (released on 3 April 2013) NOWPAP/NEASPEC Joint Workshop NOWPAP and NEASPEC jointly organized the Workshop on Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Marine Protected Areas in the Northwest Pacific on 13-14 March 2013 in Toyama, Japan. The workshop brought together focal points and experts from both NOWPAP and NEASPEC member states of People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Russian Federation as well as representatives from international organizations: Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) and IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (IOC WESTPAC). The first day of the workshop was focused on sharing information on marine environmental assessments for marine biodiversity conservation and the current status of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the member states. During the second day, after hearing further updates on MPAs by NEASPEC experts, participants discussed MPA networking, including possible operation modalities. The workshop agreed that both NOWPAP and NEASPEC should work together in the development and implementation of their respective projects toward the common goal of protecting the marine biodiversity in the region and coordinate with other organizations and projects such as YSLME, PEMSEA and WWF.    (released on 22 March 2013) NOWPAP at North Pacific Regional Workshop on EBSAs The North Pacific Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) was convened by the Convention of Biological Diversity Secretariat in Moscow, Russia, from 25 February to 1 March 2013 in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP), the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), and the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC). NOWPAP representative and experts from its member states (Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia) attended the workshop together with participants from other countries and international organizations. The workshop was tasked to describe areas meeting the scientific criteria for EBSAs or other relevant criteria based on best available scientific information. From the NOWPAP region, Japanese experts shared their experiences in applying the scientific criteria for EBSAs in their jurisdiction and Russian experts suggested marine areas meeting EBSAs criteria within the Russian national jurisdiction, including Peter the Great Bay as well as Moneron island shelf in the NOWPAP sea area. Participants also indentified gaps and needs for future elaboration in describing EBSAs, including the need for building scientific capacity and enhancing future scientific collaboration.    (released on 8 March 2013) NOWPAP financial sustainability enhanced further NOWPAP is pleased to announce that the Chinese Government has decided to increase its annual contribution to the NOWPAP Trust Fund to USD 100,000 from the current level of USD 40,000. In this connection, NOWPAP is one step forward in reaching the target amount of half a million dollars which was set up by member states. With the increased contribution, NOWPAP is able to support more activities agreed upon by the member states.  (released on 13 February 2013) NOWPAP at a Workshop on Regional Marine Environmental Cooperation NOWPAP representatives attended the workshop held in Seoul on 23 January 2013 where the issue of marine environmental cooperation among several projects and programmes in the East Asia was discussed. This workshop was organized by the Center for Climate and Sustainable Development Law and Policy, Korea University, with the support of Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology. The outcomes of this workshop are expected to be presented to the “transition committee” of the newly elected ROK President.    (released on 30 January 2013) Call on Toyama Prefectural Government NOWPAP representative paid a courtesy call on the Toyama Prefectural Government on 16 January 2013 to deliver the New Year greetings and sincere thanks for the support offered by the host government to NOWPAP office in Toyama. It was learned that the Prefectural Government is planning to have a symposium back to back with the 18th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting in December 2013 for which it is also the host.    (released on 16 January 2013) NOWPAP at 17th NEASPEC SOM Invited as an observer, NOWPAP representative attended the 17th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the North-East Asian Sub-regional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC) held on 20-21 December 2012 in Chengdu, China. As all NOWPAP member states are also members of NEASPEC, NOWPAP has been watching closely the developments of NEASPEC in order to find issues of mutual interest for cooperative activities and to avoid any possible duplicated efforts in the region. As the meeting approved a proposal for launching a project on Northeast Asian marine protected areas (MPAs) network to which NOWPAP has contributed during the preparation of the project proposal, NEASPEC has been invited to co-organize a workshop on marine biodiversity conservation and marine protected areas to be hosted by the NOWPAP Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre on 13-14 March 2013 in Toyama, Japan. NEASPEC has suggested one session and will dispatch experts to the workshop, which will be held as a joint event of NOWPAP and NEASPEC.  (released on 11 January 2013)