August - September 2011 : NOWPA update - More information..

May - July 2011 : NOWPA update - More information..

April 2011 : Partner update - NOWPAP / PICES / WESTPAC Joint Training Course on Remote Sensing Data Analysis and 5th International Marine Debris Conference More information..

March 2011: Partner update - NOWPAP at the Meeting of Regional Seas Coordinators, NOWPAP at the YSLME Meeting, UNEP Year Book 2011 launched and Consultations on Development of NOWPAP Medium Term Strategy! More information..

September 2010 : Partner update - The 3rd Joint NOWPAP Oil Spill Response Exercise and Forum! More information..

May 2010 : Partner update - NOWPAP links with partners are strengthened! More information..

24 August 2009: Press release: Applications are now open for the Ninth UNU-INWEH & UNESCO International Course on Biodiversity in Mangrove Ecosystems held at the Centre of
Advanced Studies in Marine Biology Annamalai University, India from 2-16 November 2009. The course focuses primarily on mangrove ecosystems while maintaining an integrated approach towards management of coastal ecosystems. Particular emphasis is given on the methodology for assessing, monitoring and conserving biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems. The main objective of this Course is to build the capacity of professionals and institutions in developing countries to undertake monitoring, research and conservation of critical coastal ecosystems within mangrove forests.

A limited number of fellowships are available to qualified candidates from developing countries only. These fellowships will be granted on a competitive basis and will cover the entire expenses of the workshop, including economy excursion airfares via the most direct route for candidates from outside India.

More information and the application forms can be found at: http://www.inweh.unu.edu/Coastal/Mangroves/Mangroves.htm
Application forms should be sent to:

Dr. K. Kathiresan
Professor, CAS in Marine Biology
Annamalai University, Parangipettai - 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India
Tel: 91 - 4144 - 243223 (Off), 238419 (Res.)
Fax: 91 - 4144 - 243555
E-mail: kathirsum@rediffmail.com
cdl_aucasmb@sancharnet.in

17 June 2008: Press release "Campaign spotlights severity of marine trash in the East Asian Seas" about the Clean Up East Asian Seas Campaign. Read the press release...

10-11 June 2008: COBSEA organized Forum on Marine Pollution related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. The forum identified priority areas and measures on how MEA implementation can be enhanced in the East Asian Seas region. More information....

5 June 2008: Partner update - NOWPAP links with partners are strengthened! More information...

1-3 May 2008: COBSEA supports the organization of the UNEP/IOC Technical Working Group Workshop for the development of UNEP/IOC Operational Guidelines on Survey and Monitoring of Marine Litter. The workshop was attended by experts from several Regional Seas programmes as well as experts from other organizations. More information...

24 March 2008: COBSEA joins the International Year of the Reef 2008! The ICRI International Year of the Reef 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability. COBSEA is a long-time ICRI partner and is now a registered IYOR 2008 Focal point! Go to IYOR website...

22-23 January 2008: The New Strategic Direction of COBSEA (2008-2012) adopted by the 19th Meeting of COBSEA. The meeting was hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia. The meeting also discussed and adopted a number of important matters including the COBSEA Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, the outline of an East Asian Seas Environment Outlook and the Work Plan and Budget 2008-2009. More information...

20 January 2008: Partner news - An update on the activities in the NOWPAP region. More information...

15 January 2008: Partner news - The UNDP/GEP Yellow Sea Project invites proposals for the "SAP demonstration activities". Go to YSLME website...

28-29 September 2007: COBSEA participated in the NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup in Busan, the Republic of Korea. The 2007 NOWPAP ICC campaign was organised in order to highlight the global concern of marine litter and to strengthen cooperation between neighbouring countries to better cope with the litter problem. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Republic of Korea, was generous enough to support COBSEA's participation in this important event. More information...

24 September 2007: COBSEA featured in Thailand's Daily News: "Coordination for the protection of the Seas of East Asia" - Dr. Cherdchina Chotiyaputta from Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources informed the Daily News readers of COBSEA and its proposed new strategic direction. The article also includes information on the emerging issue of marine litter and COBSEA's plans to develop a regional action plan to address this problem. Link to article (in Thai)...

15 September 2007: 505 volunteers participated in a coastal cleanup day including both underwater and beach activities in Koh Lanta, Thailand. The volunteers collected more than 3,000kg of debris! The cleanup day was organized by the Phuket Marine Biological Center as part of COBSEA's Green Fins activity. More information....

5-6 September 2007: The Special Intergovernmental Session of COBSEA organized in Putrajaya, Malaysia in order to discuss COBSEA's new strategic direction (2008-2012) and to finalise the White Paper to be presented to the 19th Meeting of COBSEA for possible adoption. More information...

1 July 2007: Bangkok Post publishes an article 'Green Diving' about the Green Fins Programme. Link to article...