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27th September 2022

Regional Seas Weekly News
A compilation of news, events, publications from the Regional Seas Programme and other sources.

FROM THE REGIONAL SEAS CONVENTIONS AND ACTION PLANS (RSCAPs)

Strong Regional Seas presence at the 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC)

Over 1,000 participants joined 7IMDC, the longest running international conference series dedicated to the issue of marine litter and plastic pollution, during 18-23 September 2022 in Busan, Republic of Korea.  The 7IMDC was organized by an Executive Committee comprised of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),​ with the organizational support of ​the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), and the technical support of​ U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Representatives of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), the Cartagena and Abidjan Conventions, as well as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) participated in this important global conference, highlighting ongoing Regional Action Plans on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) and other relevant programmes, projects and initiatives.  Technical sessions on ”Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Global Action on Marine Litter in the East Asian Seas and Northwest Pacific” was organized jointly by COBSEA and NOWPAP, and one on “Fostering Partnerships to address Marine Litter in the Wider Caribbean” was organized by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute through their joint Caribbean Regional Node.   

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UNEP/MAP at the Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference

The UNECE Ninth Environment for Europe (EfE) Ministerial Conference will be held in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 5-7 October 2022. This is the first time that the event takes place in a Mediterranean country. The conference will be preceded by the Special Session of the Committee on Environmental Policy (3-4 October 2022) and the Special Session of the Steering Committee on Education for Sustainable Development (4 October 2022). The third High-level Meeting of Education and Environment Ministries will take place in the immediate aftermath of the 9th EfE Ministerial Conference.

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Meeting of the National Focal Points of SACEP on the Regional Project "Plastic free Rivers and Seas for South Asia"

Meeting of the National Focal Points (NFPs) of SACEP on the Regional Project "Plastic free Rivers and Seas for South Asia" was held in Maldives on 21-22 September 2022. Mr. Md. Shahab Uddin, M.P Honorable Minister of Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate change, Government of Bangladesh and present GC Chair of SACEP was present as the chief guest. Dr. Abdullah Naseer, Hon’ble state Minister Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of Maldives was present as the special guest. Dr. Masumur Rahman, Director General of South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme SACEP coordinated the NFP meeting as Secretary of SACEP secretariat.
Secretary of Environment Ministry of different member states of SACEP (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka) were also deliver their remarks. Senior officials and Representative of World Bank and Parley for the Ocean and UNOPS attended the meeting.

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Enhancing Resiliency Of The Pacific Islands On Disaster Waste Management

 After a colourful and captivating official opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, conference delegates toured the marketplace, an interactive exhibition space setup that features close to 50 information and awareness booths of various organisations.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) exhibition booth, managed by the European Union funded and SPREP implemented Pacific Waste Management (PacWastePlus) Programme was a popular attraction.

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The Power Of Geospatial Information Systems As A Tool To Analyse Data On Impact Of Adaptation

A first in meeting mutual needs in the Kingdom of Tonga took place this week at a time when the nation is celebrating National Climate Change Awareness Week.  A team of two staff members from the Lands Geospatial Information Systems (LGIS) division under the Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources responded to an urgent call to accurately geolocate coastal protection structures on Tongatapu.
The call was made through the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) for the GCCA+ Scaling up Pacific Adaptation (SUPA) project. Geolocation refers to identifying the geographical location of a person or device by means of digital information processed via the internet.

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Nairobi Convention Weekly Marine and Coastal News Round-up

The Nairobi Convention News Round up is a compilation of recent marine and coastal environment news from the Western Indian Ocean region and around the World. 

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UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS

2nd part of the COBSEA IGM in Hanoi, Vietnam on 12 -13 October 2022

The evaluation of the implementation of COBSEA's Strategic Directions 2018-2022 and elements for a new (draft) Strategic Direction 2023-2027 will be presented during the COBSEA Intergovernmental Meeting 25 Part two (IGM 25.2)

The first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC1) to develop an Internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, will take place in Punta del Este from 28 November to 2 December 2022.

The multi-stakeholder forum is planned to take place for the full day on 26 November, and regional consultations and bureau meeting to be held on 27 November. Following the practice of the ad hoc open-ended expert group (OEWG) meeting held in Dakar from 30 May to 1 June, the INC will be a hybrid meeting.

UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) - 7 - 19 December , 2022 in Montreal, Canada

LATEST COASTAL & MARINE NEWS

New biodiversity commitments announced as world leaders declare nature summit COP15 a priority

New commitments aimed at catalyzing biodiversity finance and conservation were unveiled today at a high-level event convened on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to showcase action and support for a nature-positive world. New initiatives announced include €0.87 billion of new funding from the German government; a 10 point plan for financing biodiversity, endorsed by 16 initial countries; and the next phase of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC for Nature and People 2.0), supporting the protection of at least 30% of land and ocean globally, announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica on behalf of the President of Costa Rica. An accelerator for action on biodiversity was also announced by the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia on behalf of the President of Colombia. Read More>>

Asia-Pacific countries get ready to tackle marine plastic litter

The first regional task force meeting for Asia-Pacific countries in a major international project to help reduce marine plastic litter from maritime transport and the fishing sector has been held in Busan, Republic of Korea. The task force meeting, under the IMO- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) GloLitter Partnerships Project, brought together 20 participants from 10 countries.  Read More>>

 

Support to harmonize ballast water management procedures in Mediterranean Sea

A new initiative to support the prevention and control of marine biological invasions through ships' ballast water in the Mediterranean Sea has been initiated. The initiative will focus on developing harmonized procedures for the uniform implementation of specific aspects of the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention) for which regional harmonization in the Mediterranean Sea region is essential. The BWM Convention requires ships to manage their ballast water so that harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens are removed or rendered harmless before the ballast water is released into a new location. This protects biodiversity and resources by preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species as well as potentially harmful pathogens. Read More >>

Bloomberg Philanthropies Intensifies Efforts to Protect the World’s Ocean

On 21st September, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced it is expanding its commitment to protect the ocean, coastal communities and marine ecosystems. The Bloomberg Ocean Initiative will invest $204 million to leverage data-driven solutions, policy solutions, and community involvement to protect coral reefs, stop illegal fishing, and safeguard marine ecosystems and biodiversity that are at risk from the growing impacts of climate change. Today’s commitment builds on Bloomberg’s efforts to fight climate change and aims to spur meaningful ocean action 45 days ahead of this year’s COP27, where Bloomberg will also sponsor one of the first-ever pavilions dedicated to showcasing the ocean’s critical role in the fight against climate change.. Read More>>

Countries join efforts for Red Sea corals in the Gulf of Aqaba

In the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan, Israel, Sudan and Switzerland join their efforts for the sake of Red Sea corals under the auspices of the Transnational Red Sea Center. The Transnational Red Sea Center, a Swiss initiative bridging science and diplomacy for the study and preservation of the most promising coral “refuge” on Earth, has just completed a first scientific mission along the Jordanian and Israeli coasts in collaboration with its local partners. Read More>>

New Resources Presented to Help Build Resilience to Climate Change

Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in November, the Adaptation Committee has approved key resources that can help guide governments in assessing their needs and communicating their actions to build resilience to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Such impacts include ever more frequent and severe storms, droughts and floods.The Adaptation Committee (AC) is the global voice on adaptation to climate change, working to drive coherent UNFCCC action on adaptation worldwide by providing expert guidance, improving outreach, and supporting the implementation of the Paris AgreementRead More>>

A new vision for our oceans

There has never been a greater moment for ocean conservation. The links between the health of our global seas and the fight against climate change are strong. More political attention and public and private sector resources are going toward ocean conservation than ever before. And the poverty alleviation, food, and national security communities understand that healthy oceans are mission critical for prosperity and peace—at the community, national, and global levels. 
As such, now is the time to renew WWF’s commitment to ocean conservation. Over the course of the last year, with support from hundreds of internal and external collaborators, a group of amazingly dedicated people at WWF developed and today is launching our new ocean strategy. Read More>>

Unchecked ocean warming threatens many Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean corals

The coral reefs of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean are richly diverse ecosystems of global importance. These regions contain more than 10% of the world's reefs and host hundreds of fish species, and they provide more than $6 billion in economic benefits courtesy of fisheries, tourism, and other ecosystem services. But over the past four decades, climate change and local stressors like overfishing, pollution, and invasive species have taken a heavy toll. On average, live coral covers less than 10% of the surface of most reefs in the region.. Read More>>

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Ocean Decade Strategic Communications Group – Help shape and co-create communications for the Ocean Decade

Do you want to be part of a diverse and passionate group that will advance the global communications efforts for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (‘the Ocean Decade’)? Apply now for membership of the Ocean Decade Strategic Communications Group (SCG)! Read More>>

Four reasons to protect rivers

While rivers make up a tiny fraction (0.49 per cent) of surface fresh water, they play a large role in their support of life on Earth and human development. Of all the world’s liquid surface fresh water, 87 per cent is contained in lakes, 11 per cent in swamps, and only 2 per cent in rivers. World Rivers Day on 25 September was an opportunity to reflect on the role rivers have played in human civilization, the pressures they face today in a world of nearly eight billion people, and the need to protect and manage them sustainably. Read More>>

A new island has emerged out of the Pacific Ocean, but it may soon disappear

There's a new island in the South Pacific. Earlier this month, an underwater volcano near Tonga erupted, oozing lava and expelling steam and water above the surface. It also formed a new land mass that's quickly grown from one to more than eight acres in size.According to NASA's Earth Observatory, a volcano on what's known as the Home Reef seamount began to erupt on Sept. 10.Eleven hours later, the unnamed island poked out of the water. Read More>>

The State of the World’s Mangroves 2022

The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) released their annual report, The State of the World’s Mangroves 2022, a compilation of the most current information available on what we know about mangrove forests and what’s being done to reverse the downward trends impacting the coastal trees and the local communities who depend on them. 
We now have access to more extensive and reliable knowledge via data updates to Global Mangrove Watch maps–the evidence base informing the Global Mangrove Alliance–that brings coverage from 2016 up to 2020. With this new insight, we can now say that there are 147,000km2 of mangroves remaining worldwide, an area about the size of Bangladesh. Read More>>

 

Java fishers struggle with seine net ban amid rising costs, falling profits

  • Fishers on the north coast of Java are struggling to adapt to a ban on the seine net, with many boats confined to port after the government ceased issuing new permits to seine net fishers.

  • Java fishers report declining catch volumes from the alternative net.

  • Some boat captains fear bankruptcy as cash flow pressures mount.

Read More>>

Hidden Forests Found Deep Beneath The Ocean Cover Twice The Area of India

How many of us could name an underwater forest? Hidden underwater are huge kelp and seaweed forests, stretching much further than we previously realized. Off the coastline of southern Africa lies the Great African Seaforest, while Australia boasts the Great Southern Reef around its southern reaches. There are many more vast but unnamed underwater forests all over the world.Our new research has discovered just how extensive and productive they are. The world's ocean forests, we found, cover an area twice the size of India. Read More>>

IN FOCUS

Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2022-2025

The objective of the Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2022-2025 is to achieve a diverse, resilient and pollution-free ocean that supports equitable sustainable livelihoods. This includes climate stability, living in harmony with nature, ocean sustainability and operating within planetary boundaries.
To achieve this objective, three strategic goals are outlined, taking into account current and emerging objectives at the international and regional level.
I. Secure diverse, resilient, and productive marine and coastal ecosystems.
II. Support assessment, information and knowledge management at all levels to strengthen science-policy dialogue on marine and coastal issues and their interactions.
III. Increase reach and mainstreaming of the Regional Seas Programme, including advocacy, political support and dialogue for furthering action.

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LATEST PUBLICATIONS, STUDIES & RESEARCH ARTICLES

Arctic sea ice loss leads to more frequent strong El Niño events

Noise pollution is killing whales, but this technology could help

The UNEP Regional Seas Programme (RSP) is UNEP’s most important regional mechanism for conservation of the marine and coastal environment since its establishment in 1974. The Programme aims to address the accelerating degradation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas through a shared approach, by engaging neighbouring countries in comprehensive and specific actions to protect their shared and connected ocean. It is an action-oriented programme that brings together a broad range of stakeholders including governments, scientific communities, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, private sector and civil societies, to address ocean-related issues. Today, 146 countries participate in 18 Regional Seas programmes, and most of the programmes have adopted a regional action plan underpinned by a legal framework in the form of a regional convention and associated protocols on specific issues. The Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans outline coordinated actions to address specific environmental concerns. 
If you have any news, events, announcements and publications related to coastal and marine issues that you would like to be included in the weekly newsletter, send us an email on: regionalseas@un.org
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The news articles are compiled by the Regional Seas team. All articles are reproduced as reported by the media. Their inclusion does not mean that UNEP endorses the views they reflect or confirms the information they contain.






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