The Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), a network of member country governments that promotes global change research and strengthens interactions between the science community and policy-makers in the region, has recently approved the titled project. The highly-productive western North Pacific has experienced dramatic changes in oceanographic conditions and ecosystem structure, driven by climatic changes and anthropogenic interventions. It is intended to conduct comparative studies across NOWPAP countries (China, Japan, Korea and Russia) to evaluate regional differences in the responses of marine ecosystems to the changes in the NOWPAP sea area (33-52oN; 121-143oE) by a working group composed of natural and socioeconomic scientists. This project will provide scientific basis to decision makers in developing policy strategies that incorporate regional differences in marine ecosystems supporting fish stocks, as well as vulnerability and adaptation of fisheries industries to climate change.The project concept was initiated by NOWPAP and will be implemented under the leadership of Dr. Sukgeun Jung (Jeju National University, Korea).
Implementation of NOWPAP contributes to the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) in the Northwest Pacific region.