Ocean Experts and Advocates Prepare for 8th East Asian Seas Congress in Xiamen

1 of 3

XIAMEN, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA – Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) is staging the 8^th East Asian Seas Congress (EASC) from 6 to 8 November 2024 in Xiamen, the People’s Republic of China.

Co-organized with the Ministry of Natural Resources of China and the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government, it is the 8^th EASC since country and non-country partners, local governments, the academe, private sector, international development partners, youth, nongovernment organizations, grassroots organizations and coastal communities agreed to work together to foster healthy seas, people and economies in the East Asian Seas region.

Held every three years, EASC provides a platform for ministerial and high-level technical discussions along with opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange on best practices, new research findings, innovative solutions and future trends in various sectors affecting East Asian Seas.

“The theme of the congress is Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean and calls on participants to forge deeper, lasting ties and stronger collective impacts,” explains PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales. “This congress is particularly important because it will be held in one of our two original pilot sites.”

In 1993, the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Sea (MPP-EAS) introduced Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) practices in the Philippine province of Batangas, plus the Chinese coastal hub of Xiamen – helping foster institutional reforms that greatly reduced multiple-use conflicts, pollution and the occurrence of deadly red tide, while protecting endangered species and habitats and providing nature-based amenities to locals and visitors alike.

The MPP-EAS project would later grow to become PEMSEA. Xiamen in turn evolved into a bustling trade and ecotourism hub known as the ‘Garden of the Sea’ – attracting droves of domestic and international tourists yearly because of its green destinations, such as the Xiatanwei Mangrove Park and Wuyuan Bay, home to rare White Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus), considered the most beautiful bird in China.

To be held at the Xiamen International Conference Center, EASC 2024 will be staged together with World Ocean Week in Xiamen (WOW), which originated from the Xiamen International Maritime City Forum in 2005. WOW is an annual event that has hosted nearly 1000 officials and experts, over 50 important international organizations and over two million participants from nearly 130 countries and regions since its inception. Around 80,000 people attend WOW yearly.

“The successful integration of these two significant events is expected to draw increased attention and participation from high-level international organizations, officials, scholars and experts,” says the WOW official. “This will not only enhance the focus on building blue partnerships with East Asian Seas countries, but also aim to achieve a synergistic effect where one plus one is greater than two.”

Organizers hope the powerful synergy of EASC and WOW will revitalize ocean management across East Asian Seas. Numerous high-level speakers and guests are expected to attend the three-day event.

Impressive Speakers’ Lineup  

The EASC consists of a Ministerial Forum, International Conference, Environmental Exhibition, Youth Forum, General Assemblies of Local Governments and Learning Centers, plus Field Visits to learn about ICM and other relevant coastal management practices.

Delegates can attend around 30 sessions anchored on four subthemes: Ocean Science, Policy and Practice, Global Challenges, Local Solutions, Innovation and Digitizing Ocean Action, plus Blue Financing and Investments.

Ministers, Vice Ministers, Director Generals, plus other senior government officials from 10 PEMSEA partner countries are expected to attend. Confirmed speakers include Dr. Kanni Wignaraja (UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia), Mr. Mahesh Pradhan (COBSEA Coordinator under UNEP), Ms. Minna Epps (IUCN Ocean Team Director), Ms. Aya Silva (Rare Philippines / Fish Forever Vice President), Professor Icarus Allen (Plymouth Marine Laboratory Chief Executive), Dr. Minhan Dai (Xiamen University Chair and Professor of Marine Biogeochemistry) and many others.

Senior Chinese officials are warmly welcoming delegates. “EASC greatly strengthens solidarity and cooperation among our respective countries,” says China’s Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua. “The congress also promotes the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). We are delighted to host our local and foreign participants.”

With over 800 delegates from 20 countries expected to attend, EASC 2024 aims to strive for bold and progressive achievements in international marine cooperation, comprehensive coastal zone management, marine cultural exchanges and other relevant fields.

“The 8^th EASC is a powerful celebration of ocean solutions,” concludes EAS Partnership Council Chair Dr. Vann Monyneath. We envision healthy, vibrant and productive seas for all countries in East Asia and beyond. We’re excited to share and learn from everyone in Xiamen.” (END)