The 18th Focal Points Meeting of NOWPAP Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre was held online on 7-8 December 2021. The scientists from the Northwest Pacific region reviewed the projects implemented in 2020 and 2021 and agreed to the work plan in the next biennium.
In 2020 and 2021, the scientists in the region made progress in testing the agreed ecological quality objective targets within the designated areas. They adjusted targets through possible alignment with the SDG-14 indicators.
They have also conducted research on microplastics abundance in river runoff and coastal waters of the NOWPAP region. They assessed and analysed current methods of sampling microplastics in the seawater and fresh water and the sample treatment protocols applied in the NOWPAP countries.
The integrated assessment of environmental problems, status and trends related to existing and changing natural and socio-economical conditions in the NOWPAP region is ongoing. In the 2022-2023 biennium, the scientists will complete the report.
In addition, the scientists will conduct research on invertebrates as potential indicators of contamination by microplastic and nanoplastic of marine and coastal areas within the NOWPAP region, and research on the development of marine spatial planning (MSP) in the NOWPAP Member States as a mechanism to reduce pressure on the coastal and marine environment.
