PEMSEA forges partnerships with governments of the region, across public and private sectors of the economy, and with civil society groups, in establishing a functional framework for the management and protection of the coastal and marine resources of the Seas of East Asia.

Collaborative activities between PEMSEA and various agencies, organizations and institutions include training and capacity building, ICM parallel site development and implementation, public awareness and communication, environmental investments, information sharing and exchange, and publications. Particularly, efforts have been made to establish partnership arrangements in support of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).

1. National Government Agencies

   1. Port Authority of Thailand The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has designated Bangkok Port as the demonstration site for the Port Safety, Security, Health and Environmental Management System (PSSHE-MS). Their participation started with the field testing of the PSSHE-MS manual, which was developed to assist port authorities/companies in establishing a management system that ensures compliance with the provisions of the IPSEM Code and could be evaluated and certified by a recognized organization, if so desired by the Port Authority or Company. PEMSEA is providing technical support for the establishment of PSSHE-MS at Bangkok port, while PAT is co-funding the training workshops and operating expenses of the project team.

2. Local Governments
    

   1. Cavite Provincial Government, Philippines
      
      Cavite Province signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and PEMSEA on 8 March 2004 for the development and implementation of an integrated coastal management (ICM) parallel site in the province. The agreement aims to proactively address Cavite’s escalating environmental problems and threats, in collaboration with various stakeholders, in particular private sector and municipalities. With this agreement, Cavite became the 4th ICM parallel site in the region.
       

   2. Quangnam Provincial Government, Vietnam
      
      After a successful site evaluation by RPO in July 2004, Quang Nam Province was officially accepted as PEMSEA’s 5th ICM parallel site in August 2004. The necessary financial resources to initiate the program will be provided through Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MONRE). The Department of Natural Resources and Environment was appointed as the lead agency. Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement is scheduled in November 2004.
       

   3. Victoria State Government, Australia
      
      The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) of the Victoria State of Australia is in the process of finalizing partnership arrangements with PEMSEA through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Within the framework of the SDS-SEA, the partnership activities will focus on exchange of information and experience in integrated coastal management, co-organization of related leadership seminars and workshops, and capacity building.
       

3. Private Sector
   
   In addition to the collaboration with the private sector that has been already recognized by previous PSC meetings, following new collaborative activities were initiated:
    

   1. Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Malaysia
      
      Port of Tanjung Pelepas began its operation in 2000. In its short history, PTP is emerging as South East Asia’s leading container terminal with a traffic flow of over 3.5 million TEU’s per year. To promote environment-friendly operations and quality services to clients, PTP demonstrated its commitment to support the PEMSEA’s PSSHE-MS initiative through the setting-up of the PSHE-MS in the Port of Tanjung Pelepas. A Steering Committee and project team was established for the implementation of the project. PTP is co-funding the training workshops and operating expenses of the project team.
       

   2. Pro-Environment Consortium, Philippines
      
      The City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines, and the Pro-Environment Consortium, the selected private sector partner, signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the development and implementation of an integrated solid waste management system for the city on 16 April 2004. The project aims to provide improved sanitation services to all sectors, including poor communities. It involves the collection of waste from households and commercial and industrial establishments, closure of the open dumpsite, development and operation of a materials recovery facility (MRF) and composting center, and the baling/storage of residual waste in a sanitary landfill, in concert with a social development program. The partnership was forged using PEMSEA’s PPP process.
       

4. University, Research Institutions, Donors, NGOs
   
   In addition to the collaboration with the university, research institutions, donors and NGOs that have been already recognized by previous PSC meetings, following new collaborative activities were initiated:
    

   1. APEC Marine Environment Training & Education Center (AMETEC) of Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute, Republic of Korea
      
      AMETEC is a training and education center specialized in marine environmental monitoring, jointly established by APEC and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of RO Korea. Since its official launching on November 2003, AMETEC has collaborated with PEMSEA and provided training opportunities to government personnel and local experts who are involved in environmental monitoring at PEMSEA sites. During 15-29 November 2003, eight participants from PEMSEA sites in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, PR China and Vietnam attended a training course on environmental monitoring, particularly focused on land-based pollution. During 10-23 October 2004, another training course on environmental monitoring related to oil spills will involve 13 participants from PEMSEA sites.
       

   2. Australian Network of Maritime Education and Training Association Inc.(ANMET), Australia
      
      ANMET is a network of Australasian providers of professional maritime education and training services, committed to delivering quality programs to countries in the Asia/ Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. ANMET and PEMSEA are in the process of establishing a partnership arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The focus of collaboration is on maritime education and training in support of the implementation of SDS-SEA.
       

   3. Chulalongkorn University , Thailand
      
      The Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science of Chulalongkorn University is one of the leading institutions in the field of marine science in Thailand. The Department is currently taking the lead in a PEMSEA project on capacity building for natural resource damage assessment, with a special focus on fisheries and aquaculture. The Department has organized two workshops in collaboration with the Pollution Control Department and PEMSEA to increase awareness and understanding of relevant agencies on environmental resource valuation and cost recovery from oil spills (i.e., CLC and FUND Conventions).
       

   4. City University of Hong Kong, PR China
      
      The City University of Hongkong and PEMSEA have worked together on the development of the training program, materials and manual for Integrated Environmental Impact Assessment (IEIA) for Coastal and Marine Areas. The institution has been providing course lecturers in a number of training courses conducted in 1998, 1999 and 2000 in Hongkong and Singapore. PEMSEA and the University are organizing another IEIA training course, which will be held in Hong Kong on 24 November – 4 December 2004. The University will provide the course lecturers for the training course, which will include participants from PEMSEA participating countries.
       

   5. Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF)/International Center for Environmental Financing
      
      GETF’s ICEF is a project on innovative environmental financing supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to help countries create permanent self-sustaining, market-based finance systems and improve environmental protection. GETF and PEMSEA are collaborating on innovative financing arrangements including the development of regional and national revolving funds. The partnership arrangement was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 16 October 2003.
       

   6. The International Marine Project Activities Centre (IMPAC) Ltd./the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Reef Research Centre Ltd. and its associate International Ocean Institute (IOI) Regional Operational Centre for Australia and the Western Pacific, Australia
      
      A partnership arrangement is being developed between IMPAC, CRC-Reef and PEMSEA on effective management of the marine protected areas (MPA). The proposed initiative will involve PEMSEA participating countries and Australian coastal management expertise in Townsville, through the IMPAC, the Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation, and the Victorian Coastal Council. The goal is to deliver training based on the successes of established MPAs, through partnerships with PEMSEA and other major international and regional NGOs (WWF, IUCN, TNC, CI, etc.) in Southeast Asia. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the ASEAN Working Group on Marine and Coastal Environment.
       

   7. The Nippon Foundation, Japan
      
      The Nippon Foundation is collaborating with PEMSEA on the implementation of the project entitled “Dynamics of Regional Cooperation on Coast and Ocean Governance”. The first phase of the project began in March 2004 and is expected to be completed by August 2005.
       

5. Media
    

   1. Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (APFEJ)
      
      APFEJ and PEMSEA co-organized the Media Forum on Partnerships in Environmental Communication on 11 December 2003, as a side event of the East Asian Seas Congress 2003. Over 24 journalists, broadcasters and communicators, representatives of international organizations and PEMSEA officers attended the forum. The forum provided a venue for exploring how media can do its part in the implementation of the SDS-SEA.
       

   2. CNBC Asia
      
      A regional cable news network, CNBC Asia aired a 30-second special feature plug on PEMSEA and its activities in the region. The plug as aired daily for a one-week period.
       

   3. Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, Philippines
      
      A semi-government owned TV station, Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) regularly aired the PEMSEA Story, Bataan Video “Kagandahan, Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran para sa Kinabukasan”, and the PEMSEA Eco-Camp video. The videos began airing in May 2002. From September 2003-September 2004, an estimated 55 million viewers have seen the videos. In addition to these videos, PEMSEA provided IBC-13 two new videos for airing last July 2004, the East Congress Video and the Melasti: A Festival of Hope video. The latter video shows the integrated coastal management practices of the people of Bali, highlighted by their practice of the “Tri Hita Karana” Philosophy. The two new videos are aired at least twice a month. From July to September 2004, an estimated 6 million viewers have seen the videos.
       

   4. Isla TV, Philippines
      
      A privately owned production company, Isla TV airs its documentaries on NBN-4 and ZOE TV Channel 11. It aired the Monsoon Tale video twice in both channels. An estimated 1.5 million viewers were able to watch the video.
       

   5. Masan Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. (MBC), Republic of Korea
      
      Masan MBC, a major Korean TV broadcast company, produced a special one-hour TV program on Xiamen ICM experiences, in cooperation with PEMSEA and the Xiamen Municipal Government. The TV program was shown as part of RO Korea’s National Ocean Day celebration. The TV feature highlighted Xiamen’s ICM program, particularly their success in balancing economic development with environmental protection, a subject seen to be of great interest for Korean viewers.
       

6. UN Agencies, International Organizations and Institutions
    

   1. GEF/UNDP Small Grants Program (SGP)
      
      GEF/UNDP SGP was initiated with the objectives of protecting biodiversity, reducing global warming and protecting international waters. By raising public awareness, building partnerships, and promoting policy dialogue, the SGP seeks to help create a more supportive environment within countries for achieving sustainable development and addressing global environment issues. Recognizing PEMSEA and the SDS-SEA as an effective platform to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, SGP is in the process of finalizing partnership arrangement with PEMSEA to develop and implement community-based projects in PEMSEA ICM sites where effective management regimes are in place.
       

7. Collaborators of EAS Congress
    

   1. Sponsors and Workshop Co-Organizers of EAS Congress

      1. Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (APFEJ)

      2. Global Environment Facility (GEF)

      3. Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA) Coordination Office, UNEP

      4. International Maritime Organization (IMO)

      5. Selangor State Government

      6. Ship and Ocean Foundation (SOF)

      7. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) UNDP-GEF Regional Coordination Unit Asia and Pacific

      8. WorldFish Center
          

   2. Supporting Organizations

      1. China Institute of Marine Affairs (CIMA), China

      2. Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), RO Korea

      3. Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI), RO Korea

      4. Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), Malaysia

      5. Philippine Center for Marine Affairs (Philmar), Philippines

      6. Victorian Coastal Council, Australia

      7. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

      8. World Bank
         Asian Fisheries Society (AFS)

      9. Coastal Management Center (CMC)

      10. Conservation International (CI)

      11. East Asia Response Pte Ltd (EARL)

      12. International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko)

      13. International Oceans Institute (IOI)

      14. International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA)

      15. International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Ltd (ITOPF)

      16. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) – Asia

      17. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – Philippines

Click here for more of PEMSEA's Partners in the previous years.