COBSEA NEWSLETTER July – December 2024

During 15-17 September 2024, COBSEA and CSIRO organised the “Regional Training on Marine Litter Monitoring: Advancing Data Analysis” in Bangkok, Thailand. The training preceded the SEA of Solutions 2024 conference. The training aimed to build the capacity of participants from the East Asian Seas region on marine litter monitoring data analysis and included discussions to create a shared understanding of the value of harmonizing and data sharing through the case study learning. The training was supported by the SEA Circular and MA-RE Design Projects.

Marine Litter Monitoring Knowledge Session at the SEA of Solutions 2024

On 19 September 2024, COBSEA together with UNEP, SEA Circular and CSIRO, organized a panel discussion titled “Knowledge Session 5: Measuring marine litter as a way to design and implement actions that work” during SEA of Solutions 2024 (SOS 2024), 18-20 September 2024, Bangkok (hybrid). SOS 2024 was jointly organized by UNEP and COBSEA, which attracted over 700 participants in-person and online. Panelists from UNEP, the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML), CSIRO, the World Bank, and VASI under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam discussed Marine litter monitoring efforts, challenges and opportunities, as well as the need for regional harmonization of data to effectively measure and quantify mismanaged plastic.

The Marine Litter Prevention through reduction sustainable design, and recycling of plastic packaging (MA-RE-DESIGN) Project

The collaborative initiative aims to prevent plastic leakage into the sea by optimizing the packaging value chain, following circular economy principles. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the project is a joint effort by GIZ, WWF, and UNEP-COBSEA.This year, the project has actively engaged with communities, private sector, and public sector to protect Thailand’s marine life and coral diversity, as well as that of the broader region. Activities include: GIZ's support to three small and medium-sizeed companies to enhance their packaging towards a circular economy. Critically, GIZ has also provided technical support to the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and other stakeholders in Thailand to enhance their capacity on EPR and the establishment of PROs. On the municipal level, WWF has worked closely with two municipalities (Koh Tao Island and Trang) to reduce plastic pollution near marine litter hotspots. Finally, COBSEA, through this project, has continued to provide access to capacity-building training, events and negotiations, including SEA of Solutions, while also developing best practice case studies and sectorial guidelines from the EAS region.

Nutrient Pollution

COBSEA Convenes Validation Workshop for Thailand’s GEF8 Nutrients Project

On 1 and 2 October 2024, COBSEA, in collaboration with the Thailand Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, organized a Validation Workshop for the GEF8 child project “Seeding a Nutrient Pollution Reduction Strategy for the coastal waters of Thailand”, under the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Programme (CHO IP). This 5-year project, valued at USD3.5 million, aims to tackle nutrient pollution in Thailand’s coastal waters. The validation workshop was the final activity under the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) phase, which brought together over 70 participants from Thailand, representing key stakeholders to validate the project design and ensure alignment with national priorities and technical inputs, prior to official submission for endorsement by the GEF CEO.

COBSEA Participates in GEF SCS-SAP Regional Working Group on Land-based Pollution

During 27-30 August 2024, COBSEA and the UNEP GEF SCS-SAP Project were represented in Phase 2 of the “Scaling Global MPA Capacity to Reach 30 x 30 Initiative: A Systems Approach to Action” held in Maryland, USA. This initiative, organized by the Blue Nature Alliance and the Global MPA Network, was developed to convene leaders in marine management capacity development to assess the current conditions of the marine management field, recommend highest leverage opportunities, and co-design a global strategy for capacity development that fosters resilient marine ecosystems. This effort builds from Phase 1 held in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico during 26 February – 1 March 2024 which focused on looking at the entire marine management systems and identifying the challenges that hinder the achievement of the 30x30 target. During Phase 2, the group focused on several leverage points and started developing more concrete strategies that can respond to address the system. The SCS-SAP Project and COBSEA are aiming to bring this initiative to the East Asian Seas as a regional network / node.

COBSEA Participates in the East Asian Seas Congress 2024

From 6 to 8 November 2024, COBSEA joined over 850 participants for the East Asian Seas Congress 2024 (EASC) in Xiamen, China, which was organized by PEMSEA as part of the 19th Xiamen World Ocean Week (WOW). On the theme of "Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean," this triennial EASC gathered different governments, organizations, academic institutions, and experts working on the protection and management of the East Asian Seas. COBSEA participated in the “Marine Litter Fund Forum” organized by the Korean Maritime Institute (KMI) and “Harmonizing Oceans: Transboundary Strategies for Climate Resilience in North-East Asia” organized by KMI and UN-ESCAP. In collaboration with the UNEP/GEF South China Seas Strategic Action Programme (SCS-SAP) Project, COBSEA co-organized a technical session: “Strategic Collaboration in Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis in the East Asian Seas Region” in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and marine pollution. This successful panel discussion with PEMSEA, IOC-WESTPAC, NEAMPAN, IUCN Asia Pacific, and ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity facilitated designing concrete actions towards regional collaboration. COBSEA also facilitated a Plenary Session 3 of the East Asian Seas Congress on "Global Challenges, Local Solutions".

Regional Capacity Building Workshop on BBNJ by UN DOALOS

On 16 September 2024, COBSEA and NOWPAP participated in an interactive panel “Overview of ocean governance frameworks and challenges in North-East and South-East Asia, with a focus on the BBNJ Agreement”. This was part of a capacity building workshop for North-East and South-East Asia on the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), which was organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, and hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand, during 16-20 September 2024.

COBSEA joins 10th International Waters Conference in Uruguay