On 6 December 2023, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) unveiled a plaque for Chonburi Province, Thailand, a demonstration site in Thailand for marine spatial planning, representing a substantive step forward in the implementation of the UN Ocean Decade Action- UN 21: Accelerate Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific. The ceremony was… Continue reading Commemorative plaque unveiled for marine spatial planning demonstration site in Chonburi Province, Thailand
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Stem the Tide of Asia’s Riverine Plastic Emission into the Ocean
In Sanya, a southern coastal city in China, more than forty experts and representatives from eleven maritime countries in the Asia-Pacific region gathered at the international workshop on 20-22 November 2023 to kick-off the UN Ocean Decade Action – UN22: “Stem the Tide of Asia’s Riverine Plastic Emission into the Ocean”. Plastic pollution has become… Continue reading Stem the Tide of Asia’s Riverine Plastic Emission into the Ocean
Harness the potential of environmental DNA for marine biodiversity conservation
On 27-29 November 2023, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) in partnership with the Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute (Thailand) and the Nanjing University (China), organized a training workshop at the Phuket Marine Biological Center, Thailand to introduce about the Environmental DNA (eDNA) method, and explore how it could be… Continue reading Harness the potential of environmental DNA for marine biodiversity conservation
Charting the Course of Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific
On 14-15 November 2023, the first WESTPAC Expert Workshop on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) took place in Qingdao, China with the support of China Oceanic Development Foundation, First Institute of Oceanography and European Union. More than thirty marine spatial planners, experts and stakeholders from countries in the region and international organizations and partners were gathered,… Continue reading Charting the Course of Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific
Thailand Kicked off its first-ever Training of Marine Spatial Planning Trainers
Some thirty national and provincial governmental officers were gathered at a Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Training Workshop from 28th August to 1st September 2023 in Ayutthaya, Thailand. This MSP Training Workshop was jointly organized by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand and the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), as part of… Continue reading Thailand Kicked off its first-ever Training of Marine Spatial Planning Trainers
WESTPAC Chair received Japan Prime Minister’s Award
On 29 August 2023, Chairperson of the Sub-Commission-Dr Kentaro Ando was conferred with the Prime Minister’s Award of Japan in recognition of his significant achievements in and contributions to international cooperation and coordination in marine science. He is amiably called “Ken” by his colleagues and friends working together with him. Enthusiastically engaged in marine science… Continue reading WESTPAC Chair received Japan Prime Minister’s Award
Call for applications: Individual Consultant (Decade Regional Coordination)
Application Deadline: 31 August 2023 The United Nations has proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) to support efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development… Continue reading Call for applications: Individual Consultant (Decade Regional Coordination)
New Regional Training and Research Centre conducted its pilot scientific diving training
On 20-24 May 2023, the newly established Regional Training and Research Center on Coastal Contaminant Monitoring and Marine Innovative Technologies (Coastal COMMIT) at the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP), City University of Hong Kong conducted its pilot scientific diving training program at the Pulisan Bay (North Sulawesi, Indonesia). This collaborative program was led… Continue reading New Regional Training and Research Centre conducted its pilot scientific diving training
Countries in the Western Pacific vowed to catalyze ocean science solutions for sustainable development
Over the past four days, more than 100 delegates and observers from 13 countries in the region were gathered at the Fourteenth Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XIV, 4-7 April 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia), deliberating how to further advance ocean science and innovative technologies in the post pandemic era to accelerate the… Continue reading Countries in the Western Pacific vowed to catalyze ocean science solutions for sustainable development
National Decade Committees shares experience and challenges at the WESTPAC-XIV
“What is the current development status of the National Decade Committees (NDCs) in the region?” and “how could the NDCs better help promote and support the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)?” Those questions came into mainstream discussions at a side event during the 14th Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for… Continue reading National Decade Committees shares experience and challenges at the WESTPAC-XIV