The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) presented its efforts in addressing marine litter in the first Incheon International Ocean Forum (IIOF), which was held on 19-20 November 2020.
The Forum 2020 was organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Incheon Metropolitan Government, and the Incheon Port Authority. Mr. Park Jun-young, Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of ROK, Mr. Park Nam-choon, Mayor of Incheon, opened the Forum. Marine logistics scholars, entrepreneurs, governmental officials, and representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations across the world joined the Forum. The theme of the Forum is "New Normal, Reboot Ocean Industries". It covered topics like strategies for the co-prosperity and development of ports and cities, post COVID-19 maritime and logistics industry, inter-Korean cooperation in logistics, ocean digital communication, building a marine tourism ecosystem, and environmental management.
In the panel discussion on the Growth of Ocean-related Industry & Environmental Management, Dr. Ning Liu, NOWPAP Programme Officer, introduced the implementation of the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter. He highlighted the achievements made by the NOWPAP Member States in the past decade, such as the issuance of guidelines on addressing marine litter, assessment of negative impact, coastal cleanup campaigns. He appealed for the cooperation of industry who can play an important role in the fight against the plastic waste tsunami.
The Forum established the "Ocean Leaders Network," a private-public-academic consultative body. Due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Forum was organized in a hybrid method that combines the in-person Songdo Convensia events and online discussions.
