A new NOWPAP project – Marine Litter Activity (MALITA) - is being implemented after its approval by the 10th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting. One of MALITA objectives is to encourage and assist NOWPAP member states to participate in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) which is being held worldwide for about 20 years. While Japan and Korea have joined the ICC since 1990 and 2001 respectivley, Russia and China are encouraged to join too.
Sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NOWPAP is organizing an ICC campaign in September 2006 in Yamagata Prefecture (Japan) where representatives of government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), students and general public from all four NOWPAP countries will jointly collect garbage on the beach and share experience in dealing with marine litter.
With the generous support from member countries, NOWPAP will continue to organize similar campaigns as both Japan and Korea indicated possible sponsorship of future events.
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.