Busan, Republic of Korea - The 16th Asian Workshop on Ocean Color (AWOC) and the 2025 Japan - Korea Workshop on Ocean Color (JKWOC) were held successfully in Busan from November 18 to 20, 2025, bringing together more than 100 experts from across East Asia and beyond. Researchers, practitioners, and representatives from leading universities and regional institutions in Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, the United States,and other countries were among the workshop participants.
Over three days, the workshops featured keynote addresses, thematic scientific sessions and lively discussions, hands-on trainings, as well as poster exhibitions. Among other issues, discussions centered on the latest advances in satellite ocean color observations, applications of machine learning in marine science, coastal hazard assessment, and water-quality monitoring in estuarine environments.
Among the highlights, Dr. Genki Terauchi of CEARAC, under the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), presented an innovative eelgrass monitoring method using a compact sonar system mounted on a stand-up paddleboard - an example of accessible, low-cost technology for coastal ecosystem assessment. Dr. Terauchi also introduced NOWPAP’s ongoing initiatives supporting regional collaboration on marine and coastal environment management.
Ms. Yan Chang, a newly appointed NOWPAP staff member, Programme Officer at the Regional Coordinating Unit (Busan Office), participated actively in the event, engaging with partners to strengthen ties between the scientific community and regional environmental mechanisms in the Northwest Pacific. As NOWPAP is one of the seven UNEP-administered Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs), the methodologies and tools discussed at the workshop could be upscaled and implemented in other geographical regions.
In addition to oral presentations, participants took part in technical trainings and a parallel poster exhibition, fostering knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary cooperation.
The organisers announced that the next AWOC - JKWOC workshop will take place in Toyama, Japan, in December 2026, continuing the long-standing partnership among research institutions, government agencies, and regional organizations advancing ocean color science in the Northwest Pacific.
Weblink: https://wonk19.github.io/AWOC-JKWOC-2025/#program
