NOWPAP Marine Litter Workshop and ICC in Hirado

With the kind support of the Japanese government, the NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Workshop on Marine Litter Management were successfully organized on 26-28 March 2010 in Hirado, Nagasaki, Japan.   Focusing on ICC campaigns, marine litter and solid waste management, the workshop was attended by marine litter focal points and government officials of NOWPAP member states, officials from Nagasaki Prefectural Government and Hirado Municipal Government, several NOWPAP partners (PEMSEA, YSLME and UNEP IETC), directors and representatives of NOWPAP Regional Activities Centres, environmental NGOs, experts on marine litter and local citizens.   During the workshop, past NOWPAP ICC campaigns were reviewed with experiences and lessons of promoting and organising the beach cleanups shared.  The workshop also discussed the marine litter management in NOWPAP countries, in particular solid waste management which is considered as a key factor to the control of marine litter generation.  While recognizing the trans-boundary nature of marine litter and need of building up public awareness, the meeting participants wished to continue the NOWPAP ICC campaigns in the region. Korean government kindly offered to organize the next NOWPAP ICC event in September-October 2010 in the Republic of Korea. On the day after the workshop, the workshop participants together with local citizens participated in the cleanup at Tanoura beach where hundreds of kilograms of marine litter were collected, sorted and recorded.  The compiled marine litter data are available.  In conjunction with these events, the NOWPAP RAP MALI (Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter) working meeting was held to finalize the RAP MALI work plan and budget for 2010-2011 biennium.