The Expert Meeting on Marine Biodiversity and Eutrophication in the Northwest Pacific Region was held in Toyama City on August 4-5, 2011.
1. Objective
To discuss the future direction of NOWPAP CEARAC activities on marine biodiversity and eutrophication, and in particular the specific content of activities for the 2012-2013 biennium.
2. Attendees
・Experts from Japan, China, Korea and Russia on marine biodiversity and eutrophication
・Experts on marine environmental conservation from HELCOM (Helsinki Commission: an international organization working to conserve the marine environment of the Baltic Sea), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and PICES (Northwest Pacific Marine Sciences Organization)
・NOWPAP coordinator, etc. (total of approx. 30 people)
3. Main Results
(1) Future initiatives regarding marine biodiversity
The status of initiatives in Japan, China, Korea and Russia regarding the conservation of marine biodiversity and the establishment of marine protected areas was reported, and future activities were discussed based on this. As a result of the discussions,
・The details of the criteria for establishing ecologically and biologically important marine areas in the Northwest Pacific region were determined
・Establishing a framework (system) for setting common indicators of marine biodiversity in the Northwest Pacific region
・Evaluating the effectiveness of marine protected areas established in each country in the Northwest Pacific region
were selected as candidates, and it was decided that further narrowing down would be carried out at the CEARAC Focal Point Meeting*.
(2) Future initiatives regarding eutrophication
In 2009, CEARAC developed a method for assessing the status of eutrophication in the NOWPAP target sea areas (the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea) based on the experience gained in Toyama Bay. The results of the pilot assessment conducted by the member countries of the Japan-China-Korea-Russia were reported using this method, and future activities were discussed based on these results. As a result of the discussions, it was decided that it would be appropriate to re-evaluate the status after improving the method.
Based on the discussions at this meeting, we will prepare a draft of CEARAC’s specific workplan for the 2012-2013 biennium, and propose it at the CEARAC Focal Point Meeting to be held in September.
4. Meeting minutes
Meeting minutes of the Expert Meeting on Marine Biodiversity and Eutrophication in the Northwest Pacific Region
