Participants to the 1st NOWPAP Workshop on Marine Litter

• The 1st NOWPAP Workshop on Marine Litter was held from 8 to 9 June 2006 with the participation from the NOWPAP Members (People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Russian Federation), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Non-Governmental Organizations.

Technical Trip related to Marine Litter Facilities and Equipment

• A total of 15 presentations were made at the workshop by representatives of UNEP, IMO, NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) and member states with respect to marine litter monitoring, distribution, policies and management, treatment and recycling technologies. Additionally, a side event was organized in order to learn about the Korean Buyback Programme of marine litter from fishermen and technological approaches to collect marine litter. Also, a visit to a recycling facility for treating discarded polystyrene was arranged. The workshop and field trip were financially sponsored by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and Incheon Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea.

Recycling Facility for Treating Formed Styrene

• The participants of the workshop discussed and made comments on existing data and information related to the marine litter, especially the ones from the sea-based sources in the region, and exchanged their relevant experience and expertise. Recognizing the severity of the problems imposed by the marine litter on the marine and coastal environment of the NOWPAP region and the transboundary nature of the problem, the workshop participants re-affirmed the need for cooperation among the NOWPAP members and also between the NOWPAP and the neighboring Regional Seas such as COBSEA in order to better cope with the marine litter problem.

Buyback Programme of Marine Litter from Fishermen

Collecting Drifted Marine Litter

• The participants noted that marine litter monitoring, related regulations and policies as well as treatment technologies already exist in this region. Nevertheless, the participants came to an understanding that further efforts are continuously needed to co-ordinate these regional activities, raise awareness of marine litter problem, increase participation of all concerned stakeholders, and exchange information, experience, expertise and lessons learned. Also, they agreed that there is a need for the countries in the Region to manage the sea-based marine litter issue through the full implementation of existing global regulations such as those contained in the London Convention concerning dumping at sea and MARPOL Annex V with respect to ship-generated garbage, and also to manage the issue based upon the NOWPAP Marine Litter Activity (MALITA) project approved by the 10th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting.

Collecting Deposited Marine Litter

• The participants reached a consensus that the workshop should be continuously organized and that the topics of the next workshop should include regional- and/or sub-regional specific issues.