2013 NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Workshop on Marine Litter management were successfully organized jointly by the non-profit organization (NPO) Okinawa Ocean Culture and Environment Action Network and NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit from 24 to 26 October 2013 in Okinawa, Japan. Sponsored by NOWPAP, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and Japanese Government, the 2013 NOWPAP ICC workshop convened at the campus of Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology has brought about 100 participants from NOWPAP countries of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Russian Federation as well as countries beyond NOWPAP region such as Estonia, Indonesia, Philippines, United States and Thailand. NOWPAP marine litter focal points and other participants from governments, academic institutions, international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) shared their practices in addressing marine litter problem, including raising public awareness and promoting ICC campaigns worldwide. The workshop was focused on four themes stressing the efforts of NGOs, local and central governments, latest developments in research and monitoring, and international cooperation. (Presentations are available here)
After the workshop, a beach cleanup was organized at two beaches where the workshop participants with local people collected marine litter items, sorted them out and recorded in the ICC data cards which will be reported to Ocean Conservancy for compilation in the annual report.
