Page 1 United Nations Environment Programme NOWPAP Northwest Pacific Action Plan Distribution: GENERAL UNEP/NOWPAP/RAP MALI FP/2017/3 06 October 2017 Original: English The 2017 NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) Focal Points Meeting Toyama, Japan 20 September 2017 Summary of the Meeting For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited number. Delegates are kindly requested to bring their copies to meetings and not to request additional copies.
Page 2 Introduction The RAP MALI FP meeting was held at Canal Park Hotel Toyama, on 20 th September 2017 from 9:00 to 12:00. NOWPAP Marine Litter Focal Points, representatives of NOWPAP RACs and RCU attended the meeting (list of participants is attached in Annex I). Dr. Lev Neretin, Senior NOWPAP Coordinator, opened and chaired the meeting. The meeting reviewed the progress on the implementation of the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) for 2016/2017 (UNEP/NOWPAP RAP MALI FPM / 2017/1). Also, the RAP MALI work plan and budget for 2018/2019 to be submitted for decision by the 22 nd NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting was discussed (UNEP/NOWPAP RAP MALI FPM/2017/1). Furthermore, the meeting discussed future NOWPAP activities addressing microplastics (proposal from P.R. China) and operational modalities and hosting of the Northwest Pacific Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (UNEP/NOWPAP RAP MALI FPM/2017/2). Progress report and future of RAP MALI activities for the 2018/2019 biennium from RACs CEARAC (Dr. Takafumi YOSHIDA) The Northwest Pacific Regional Node website was updated to include national and local government efforts of Japan, R. Korea and the Russian Federation in English. Data for 2014 marine litter (ML) monitoring in the above three countries and the data for 2015 ML monitoring in the Russian Federation was compiled and submitted to DINRAC to upload the latest information on the NOWPAP Marine Litter Database. CEARAC Secretariat is waiting nomination of Chinese expert from ML FP of China in order to collect similar information in P.R. China. The two projects proposed for the next biennium proposed by CEARAC is (1) to collect information on national actions addressing marine microplastics and upload the information to the Regional Node, and (2) continuing to compile and harmonize ML monitoring data from beaches and submitting them to DINRAC. For project (1), member states will be requested to provide information on activities implemented by central and local governments to prevent microplastics pollution including legal aspects and ongoing research projects. DINRAC (Ms. Diyin LU)
Page 3 Noting the lack of rapid visualisation of ML data amongst member states, during the 2016/2017 biennium, DINRAC has been making amendments to the current system and developing techniques to make a new, synergetic ML data platform in the 2018/2019 biennium. The objectives of the new platform are the enhancement of member states capacity and promoting information disclosure and public participation. Details such as the use of GIS, data sources and data system design of the new platform were presented. The new platform would be hosted by the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (the hosting organisation of DINRAC). Concerns of lack of budget were raised as building the new platform is estimated to cost USD 70,000 while the current DINRAC budget is USD 6,000. Dr. Lev NERETIN, Senior coordinator of NOWPAP RCU, suggested two options: status quo of USD 6,000 or USD 9,000. Dr. NERETIN also proposed to make this new platform as one of the options to be considered for the future of the Northwest Pacific Regional Node. MERRAC (Dr. Jeong-Hwan OH) During the 2016/2017 biennium, MERRAC reviewed and analysed floating marine litter (FML) prediction models in the NOWPAP region. Research results, including numerical models of wind and ocean currents as well as FML tracking models were introduced. Since there are no integrated efforts to develop ML tracking models to cover the entire NOWPAP region, the necessity of collaborative efforts was raised. For the 2016/2017 biennium, a draft report on Review and Analysis of Floating Marine Litter Prediction Models in the NOWPAP Region is being developed. Member states were requested to provide comment on the report when it is submitted and also on the draft report on Understanding of Floating Marine Litter in the NOWPAP Region which was completed during the 2014/2015 biennium. Three MERRAC proposals were made for the 2018/2019 biennium. In Proposal 1, FML and drifting marine litter (DML) in the region will be collected and analysed to create a summary report. Proposal 2 aims to identify the source area and distribution of sea-based microplastics marine litter and to understand the distribution of sea-based micro plastics marine litter. The goal of Proposal 3 is to find the main routes of FML and recommend ways to respond to FML in the region. Gaps in scientific data were discussed in respect of the proposals. Regarding Proposal
Page 4 2, concerns were raised that there is not enough initial research (e.g. weathering test of fishing gear) to be able to estimate sources microplastics produced from sea-based sources. For Proposal 3, the lack of models of FML and the lack of NOWPAP budget for such research were raised. Relating to Proposal 1, there were questions on the overlap of research with NGOs and the possibility to focus on emergency accidents that produce FML such as typhoons and earthquakes. Concluding the discussion, MERRAC agreed to revise the proposal based on the received feedback with a focus on forecasting of FML and submit the revised proposal for the NOWPAP RCU in time for the decisions by member states at the 22 nd NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting. POMRAC (Mr. Nikolai Kozlovskii) During the 2016/2017 biennium, a technical paper on microplastics distribution in the Far Eastern part of Russia will be published. The draft of this paper will be available at the POMRAC Focal Point (FP) meeting next month (October). After receiving comments, the paper will be published in December 2017. There were 2 proposals for the 2018/2019 biennium. Proposal 1 was to continue work on finding land based sources of microplastics (especially with river discharge and sewage water, which were identified as main land-based regional sources) and to find the seasonal distribution of microplastics. It will involve collecting primary data and will focus on the Russian part of the NOWPAP region. Proposal 2 was to create a scientific report on the contamination of marine biota by micro- and nano-plastics. This will be a joint effort based on the ongoing research efforts with POMRAC contribution. Since the existing RAP MALI budget is limited, additional resources will be sought using POMRAC regular budget. Further discussion and final recommendation for POMRAC ML activities will happen at the 2017 POMRAC FP meeting to be held on 25-26 October 2017 in Vladivostok, Russia. Future NOWPAP activities addressing microplastics Mr. Ruizhi LIU, ML FP of P.R. China, presented a NOWPAP project proposal to be run in parallel with RAC activities. The main objectives are to evaluate ecotoxicology of microplastics, to evaluate the ecological risk of microplastics and to establish a unified method for monitoring microplastics in the marine environment for assessing pollution threshold levels. Questions were raised whether this project matches the Terms of Reference of DINRAC.
Page 5 Dr. NERETIN noted that this project can follow the same path as MALI which is where all four RACs work together but the leading entity could be a separate institution having expertise in the field of microplastics. RCU will be working with project proponents from China and in consultation with RACs to prepare final proposal to the 22 nd IGM. Focus and operational modality for the Northwest Pacific Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter Dr. NERETIN explained the structure, objectives and role of the Northwest Pacific Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter followed by the discussion on the future of the Regional Node. He also indicted that UNEP GPA office has funds (in the range from USD 10,000 to USD 20,000) to support further development of the Node. Dr. Takafumi YOSHIDA from NPEC explained that NPEC lacks the man-power to update the contents of the current Regional Node on the CEARAC website regularly. All states supported the importance of maintaining and developing further the Regional Node. P.R. China, Korea and Russia supported an option of DINRAC hosting the Node while Japan requested more time to assess whether DINRAC s Terms of Reference allow for such hosting arrangements and to consult with others not attending the meeting before making a final decision. As an alternative option, Japan suggested RCU to host the future Node. Japan s Focal Point of DINRAC expressed some concerns about the DINRAC existing capacity to manage the Node. RCU will prepare a proposal for decision by member states at the 22 nd IGM that would include information about the technical focus, operational modality and options for hosting arrangements. When approved, the proposal will be used to secure additional funding from UNEP. Future of RAP MALI activities for the 2018/2019 biennium Dr. NERETIN gave an overview of NOWPAP RCU s international contributions to global and regional efforts addressing marine litter in 2017. The major role of RCU was to raise awareness of marine litter and translating the work of RACs to regional and global mechanisms and processes. In the 2018/2019 biennium, NOWPAP regional expert of Korea, Dr. Sang Hee HONG will support GESAMP to develop guidelines and protocols for the clarification and harmonisation of sampling and analysis of plastics and micro-plastics. Ms. Kanako SATO, ML FP of Japan, announced that TEMM marine focal points intend
Page 6 to continue supporting NOWPAP-TEMM joint workshops for marine litter during the next year. R. Korea agreed to host the NOWPAP-TEMM joint workshop and conduct ICC beach cleanup campaign in Korea in 2018. Proposed budget of RAP MALI activities for the 2018/2019 biennium Dr. NERETIN presented two budget proposals (Annex II a and b). Further budget plans will be based on the two proposals presented. There were no objections to the two proposals.
Page 7 List of participants ANNEX I Country Category Role/ Title Name Organization CHINA JAPAN KOREA Member States Member States Member States ML Focal Point Mr. Ruizhi LIU NOWPAP ML FP (Ministry of Environmental Protection) Expert 1 Dr. Lihui An Institute of Water Environment Research, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Researcher Expert 2 Dr. Li LI Institute of Soil and Solid Waste Research, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Researcher ML Focal Dr. Kanako SATO NOWPAP ML FP (MOE Marine Point Litter Section, Deputy Director) MOE Mr. Katsunori Deputy Director, Ministry of the YANO Environment, Environmental Management Bureau, Water Environment Division, Office of Marine Environment, ML Focal Ms. Jeong Ja KIM NOWPAP ML FP (Ministry of Point Oceans and Fisheries, Marine Conservation Division, Deputy Director) Expert 1 Ms. Jinsung Korea Marine Environment MOCK Corporation(KOEM) Marine Debris Management Team Expert 2 Dr. Yoon Jung Korea Maritime Institute(KMI) LEE Expert 3 Dr. Sang Hee Korea Institute of Ocean HONG Science & Technology (KOIST)
Page 8 RUSSIA Member States ML Focal Point Dr. Sergey MONINETS Expert 1 Dr. Iana (ICC BLINOVSKAYA coordinator in Russia) RACs CEARAC Director Mr. Yuichi NAGASAKA Researcher Dr. Takafumi YOSHIDA NOWPAP ML FP (Maritime State Univ. named after G.I. Nevelskoi, Sea Protection Institute, Director) Maritime State Univ. named after G.I. Nevelskoi, Head of Sub faculty Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) DINRAC DINRAC Ms. Diyin LU Data and Information Network Program Regional Activity Center Manager (DINRAC) MERRAC Senior Dr. Jeong-Hwan Marine Environmental consultant OH Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) POMRAC Expert 2 Mr. Nikolai Pollution Monitoring Regional (POMRAC) KOZLOVSKII Activity Centre (POMRAC), Translator RCU Senior Dr. Lev NERETIN NOWPAP RCU Toyama office coordinator Programme Dr. Ning LIU NOWPAP RCU Busan office officer Programme Ms. Chika NOWPAP RCU Toyama office Assistant KIMURA Intern Ms. Kotoe NOWPAP RCU Toyama office KURODA
Page 9 Observer TEMM FP of Mr. Xiangbin PEI Director, Department of Water TEMM Environmental Management Marine Ministry of Environmental Litter Protection, P.R. China
Page 10 ANNEX IIa Suggested NOWPAP Trust Fund allocation for 2018-2019 for RAP MALI activities Option A (USD 70,000) Budget, US$ 2018 NOWPAP ICC campaign and NOWPAP-TEMM Workshop in R. Korea 20,000 2018 NOWPAP ICC campaign and NOWPAP-TEMM Workshop in P.R. China 20,000 Enhancing NW Pacific regional node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) CEARAC: Regional overview of national efforts (legal, institutional abd research) to address microplastics External funding by UNEP GPA (US$10k-20k) 6,000 DINRAC: Updating and visualizing database on marine litter 6,000 MERRAC: Forecasting floating marine litter 6,000 POMRAC: POMRAC FPM Specific proposal to be discussed at the upcoming 14 th 6,000 RCU: Support for regional cooperation, travel and development of public awareness materials 6,000 Total: 70,000
Page 11 ANNEX IIb Suggested NOWPAP Trust Fund allocation for 2018-2019 for RAP MALI activities Option B (USD 91,000 30% increase) Budget, US$ 2018 NOWPAP ICC campaign and NOWPAP-TEMM Workshop in R. Korea 20,000 2018 NOWPAP ICC campaign and NOWPAP-TEMM Workshop in P.R. China 20,000 Enhancing NW Pacific regional node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) External funding by UNEP GPA (US%10k-20k) CEARAC: Regional overview of national efforts to address microplastics 6,000 DINRAC: Updating and visualizing database on marine litter 6,000 Development of NOWPAP project addressing microplastics (funds to develop project proposal and secure co-funding) 13,000 MERRAC: Forecasting floating marine litter 6,000 POMRAC: POMRAC FPM Specific proposal to be discussed at the upcoming 14 th 6,000 RACs: Third Regional Overview of marine litter in the NOWPAP region 6000 RCU: Support for regional cooperation, travel and development of public awareness materials 8,000 Total: 91,000