International Coastal Cleanup in Rizhao

An International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was successfully organized on 28 June 2007 in Rizhao city, China, with kind sponsorship of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China and Rizhao municipal government.  It was the first time the ICC was formally introduced to the newly emerging city as NOWPAP is advancing the implementation of its Marine Litter Activity launched two years ago.  Two dozens representatives from Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia and regional programmes and projects such as COBSEA, PEMSEA and YSLME joined hand in hand with two hundreds local participants in this beach cleanup in an effort to raise public awareness on marine litter and promote public participation in the cleanup.  The Rizhao ICC attracted a great attention in China with the local participants ranging from central government officials, vice mayors, experts to elementary school kids. The central and local media covered this activity widely on television and in newspapers. Prior to the ICC activity, an associated workshop addressing marine litter prevention and control was held on 27 June 2007. NOWPAP will continue organizing ICC campaigns in Busan, Republic of Korea and Vladivostok, Russia later this year and next year as part of its Marine Litter Activity.