News

COBSEA Secretariat is launching a call for Expression of Interest (EOI) towards the establishment of a COBSEA network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). 

The overall aim of the activity is to strengthen biodiversity conservation and increase resilience to adverse impacts of climate change, in line with the East Asian Seas Action Plan and COBSEA Strategic Directions 2018-2022. 

The first ever virtual Blue Planning in Practice (BPiP) regional workshops took place 2nd – 6th November and 16th – 20th November 2020. The workshops were organized by the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and the Blue Solutions Initiative to advance Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning (MCSP) in the East Asian Seas region. In order to provide the best learning experience while enabling an interactive participation format, the regional training was offered on two occasions. In total, 20 participants from COBSEA countries completed the training.

Are you interested in learning more about marine litter? Do you want to know how you can help create solutions for marine litter in your region? 

With plastic pollution a major priority for governments across Asia, scientists have been working diligently to expand our understanding of the problem. But the research has varied widely across countries, including in methodologies, types of data collected, study areas, baselines, and other elements critical to governments who need to make policy decisions based on the research.

On 28 May 2020, the COBSEA Secretariat hosted the first in a series of webinars on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The webinar series provide a platform for dialogue on how COBSEA can be leveraged to support countries during development as well as implementation of the framework.

* In light of COVID-19 and associated restrictions, dates and locations of upcoming events are subject to change.

Upcoming COBSEA events *

November

2-6 November; 16-20 November - Regional Training on Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning (Virtual):

COBSEA acts as a catalyst of actions that support regional delivery of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. An Outlook on COBSEA’s follow-up and review of ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals is being prepared, in line with the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2018-2022. This will guide COBSEA’s work especially in relation to Sustainable Development Goal 14.1 on marine pollution; 14.2 on sustainable management of coastal ecosystems and 14.5 on marine protected areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented global impact. Most of us have been and continue to be affected by physical distancing measures and other disruptions to our normal way of life. Many are contending with potentially severe health impacts. The COBSEA Secretariat extends best wishes to you, your family and colleagues in the hope you are all safe. In these difficult times, we stand together and are all part of overcoming the challenges we face.

The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) held a Training of Trainers on Monitoring and Assessment of Marine Plastic Litter and Microplastics on 9-13 September 2019 in Bali, Indonesia.

The Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter was adopted by nine countries - Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - participating in the 24th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), held in Bali, Indonesia, 19-20 June 2019.

Bangkok, 10 September 2018 –Sweden, UN Environment and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) today announced efforts to combat marine litter and plastic pollution in Southeast Asia over the coming four years, through a project that aims to ensure that less plastic leaks through waste management systems.