As part of the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, NOWPAP organized the 2012 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Marine Litter Workshop on 17-18 July in Vladivostok, Russia. NOWPAP Marine Litter Focal Points, ICC national coordinators, representatives of Regional Activity Centres and Regional Coordinating Unit as well as several Tokyo University students participated in the beach cleanup and the workshop. Working together with 30 local school kids, NOWPAP participants collected about 18 kg of marine litter on the beach and recorded the results in the ICC data card which will be shared with Ocean Conservancy to be included in its annual ICC report.
The Marine Litter Workshop convened the next day provided an opportunity for the participants to share their experience in marine litter management, focusing in particular on the roles of local and central governments as well as non-governmental organizations.
The NOWPAP ICC and workshop were held as a side event of the 6th International Ecological Forum “Nature without Borders” which took place on 19-20 July in Vladivostok. NOWPAP activities on marine litter and oil spill preparedness and response were presented at the Forum.
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.