GIWA - Global International Waters Assessment

Major intergovernmental agreements and actors

Convention for the Conservation of Anadromous Stocks in the North Pacific Ocean
The Convention was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 1993. The objective of the Convention is to promote the conservation of anadromous stocks in the Convention Area. Contracting Parties are Canada, Japan, the Russian Federation, and the United States. The Convention Area covers the waters of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas, north of 33 degrees North Latitude beyond 200-miles zones of the coastal States. Species covered by the Convention are Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Pink salmon, Sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, Cherry salmon, and Steelhead trout. According to the Convention, directed fishing for anadromous fish in the Convention Area is prohibited. The North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) is the executive body of the Convention. The Parties to the Convention cooperate in the conduct of scientific research under the NPAFC Science Plan.

North Pacific Marine Science Organization, PICES
PICES is an intergovernmental scientific organization. It was established in 1992 and its present members are Canada, People's Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and the United States of America. The purposes of PICES are to promote and coordinate marine research in the northern North Pacific and adjacent seas especially northward of 30 degrees North; to advance scientific knowledge about the ocean environment, global weather and climate change, living resources and their ecosystems, and the impacts of human activities; and to promote the collection and rapid exchange of scientific information on these issues.

UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP
Within the Water Resources Programme under its Environment and Natural Resources Development Division, the UN ESCAP organizes seminars and workshops on various issues relating to water resources, including: Water resources assessment; Integrated water resources development and management; Protection of water resources, water quality and aquatic ecosystems; River basin development and management; Promotion of infrastructure development and investment for drinking water supply and sanitation; Water pricing and promotion of private investment in the water sector; Water demand management, water saving and economic use of water; and Mitigation of water-related natural disasters, particularly flood loss reduction.

UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, ROAP
Working closely with the Division of Regional Co-operation and Representation in UNEP's Nairobi-based headquarters, the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) looks to adopt global environmental policy to regional priorities and needs. It acts as a catalyst, co-ordinator, facilitater and mobilizer of resources. It puts particular emphasis on building partnerships with regional and sub-regional intergovernmental fora, other UN agencies, national governments, NGOs, the private sector, academic and research institutions, and civil society, and the media. See also here.

Northwest Pacific Action Plan, NOWPAP
China, Japan, Russia and Korea share a common sea. This shared resource also requires co-operative management. UNEP through its regional seas programme is assisting the four nations in developing pollution control and disaster response in the shared ocean environment. The goal of NOWPAP is the wise use, development and management of the coastal and marine environment so as to obtain the utmost long-term benefits for the human populations of the region, while protecting human health, ecological integrity and the region's sustainability for future generations. As the core center for initiating the cooperation among the countries and regions involved for the environmental protection in the Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea, the Northwest Pacific Region Environmental Cooperation Center (NPEC) was established in 1997. It became a public service corporation under the Jpanese Environment Agency in 1998 and was also designated to be one of the Regional Activity Centers of Northwest Pacific Action Plan in 1999. NPEC functions as Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Center for NOWPAP. See also below - Nautilus.

UNEP Regional Seas Programme
The Regional Seas Programme was initiated in 1974 as a global programme implemented through regional components. The Regional Seas Programme is UNEP's main framework in the field of the coastal and marine environment. It includes 14 regions and three partner seas, involves more than 140 coastal states, and focuses on sustainable development of coastal and marine areas. Each regional action plan is formulated according to the needs and priorities of the region as perceived by the Governments concerned. Regional conventions are in place for several areas. See a map of all regional seas, and go to more information on the Black Sea, Wider Caribbean, Mediterranean, East Asian Seas, South Asian Seas, Eastern Africa, Kuwait Region, North West Pacific, Red Sea And Gulf of Aden, South East Pacific, North East Pacific, South Pacific, Upper South West Atlantic, and West and Central Africa. The UNEP Regional Seas web site also contains information on What's at stake, Major threats, and Actions.