PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia)

12/06/2026

🌏 Rising Pressures, Calibrated Responses: The Changing Seas of East Asia

As the world charts its course toward 2030, it does so amid mounting challenges—an ocean at a tipping point, ecosystems under increasing threat, and a converging planetary crises that are increasingly outpacing the commitments that seek to confront them.

In a report published by PEMSEA on the Status, Trends, and Transitions in Coastal and Ocean Governance and Ecosystems Amidst the Triple Planetary Crisis and Emerging Polycrisis, these interconnected threats are analyzed alongside broader economic and geopolitical pressures affecting coastal and ocean governance, particularly in the East Asian Seas region.

The report synthesizes recent global, regional, and national developments to inform the updating of the SDS-SEA Implementation Plan 2023–2030. It also assesses trends in traditional and emerging blue economy sectors and underscores the need for strengthened data and monitoring systems, research and development, policy alignment, and innovative financing to support effective coastal and ocean management.

📰 Read more about Rising Pressures, Calibrated Responses: The Changing Seas of East Asia and how PEMSEA is responding to evolving challenges: https://tinyurl.com/2fupxa7j

🌎 Explore more stories on how PEMSEA is gearing up for these developments in our 2025 Annual Report: tinyurl.com/PEMSEAAR2025

08/06/2026

Happy World Ocean Day! 🌊

In line with this year’s global theme, "Reimagine: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean," PEMSEA features the Philippine Rise, a massive 13-million-hectare underwater plateau and extinct volcanic ridge located east of Luzon in the Philippines. Due to its ecological and economic importance, the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR) was established to safeguard the marine resources found in this rich ocean territory.

Through the PRICELESS Project by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau , in collaboration with Conservation International and PEMSEA, and with grant funding from the Global Environment Facility, efforts are underway to strengthen the conservation and management of the PRMRR, promote the sustainable use of its marine resources, and create livelihood opportunities for its coastal communities.

🔗 Learn more about the PRMRR and PRICELESS here: https://www.pemsea.org/resources/news/priceless-legacy-ci-gef-and-denr-bmb-launched-project-safeguard-future-philippine

📩 For more information, contact [email protected] and [email protected].

05/06/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲! 🌏

The year 2025 marks the midpoint of PEMSEA’s journey toward 2030. Appropriately titled Midway Forward: Sustaining Momentum, Navigating New Horizons, this Annual Report provides an opportunity to reflect on progress achieved, celebrate key milestones, and reaffirm our commitment to advancing sustainable development across the East Asian Seas region.

Throughout 2025, the region continued to confront complex and interconnected challenges. Through initiatives in sustainable fisheries management, blue carbon ecosystem restoration, integrated coastal management, river basin governance, and marine plastics pollution reduction, PEMSEA and its partners continued to advance practical solutions that strengthen coastal livelihoods, protect natural capital, and enhance resilience for future generations.

As PEMSEA sustains its momentum, guided by the SDS-SEA Implementation Plan 2023–2027, the organization undertook strategic assessments to sharpen its direction toward 2030, strengthen institutional effectiveness, and advance financial sustainability through innovative and diversified resource mobilization. This year also marks a leadership transition, with a new Executive Committee assuming the responsibility of guiding PEMSEA through its next chapter of regional cooperation, innovation, and action.

The path forward will not be without challenges but PEMSEA remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering resilience, strengthening partnerships, and advancing sustainable development.

📰 Read the PEMSEA 2025 Annual Report now: tinyurl.com/PEMSEAAR2025

04/06/2026

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) is looking for qualified applicants/bidders for the following

𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒:
📍 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐎𝐅/𝐏𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐎𝐃𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭
📆Deadline of Application: 𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

💡For more information, please visit: www.pemsea.org/careers

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓:
📍𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐑𝐅 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
📆Deadline of Application: 𝟏𝟓 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙊𝘿𝘼 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩:
📍𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 (𝟑) 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬
📆Deadline of Application: 𝟑𝟎 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

📍𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐌𝐑𝐅), 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐨𝐧, 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬
📆Deadline of Application: 𝟑𝟎 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

💡For more information, please visit: www.pemsea.org/procurement

29/05/2026

Our May e-Bulletin is out! 📢

In Indonesia, read how IPB University convened the Summer Course on Marine Litter Management, Policy, and Integrated Coastal Governance. Discover how the PEMSEA Resource Facility supported the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) as regional experts gathered in Bogor to train international students and early-career researchers.

Ms. Nancy Bermas, Regional Project Manager of the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management Project, represented PRF and delivered a lecture on cross-country marine litter governance and management.

In the Philippines, discover how efforts to protect the Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS) are translating into concrete local action as PEMSEA, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), and DENR-BMB held a second major training workshop in Legazpi City on Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and Marine Spatial Planning. In Thailand, read about the ASEAN ENMAPS project’s efforts to strengthen ICM and Marine Spatial Planning for marine protected area management through its training workshop.

Read more in our May e-Bulletin now: https://tinyurl.com/EbulletinMay2026

Cover photo by Orange Omengan/PEMSEA

28/05/2026

The ASEAN ENMAPS project successfully conducted the 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 in Thailand, which was held on May 18 - 22, 2026 at Lake Terrace Resort, La Ngu, Satun, Thailand. 🇹🇭🌊

Organized by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, PEMSEA Resource Facility and Prince of Songkla University, the event was attended by 39 representatives from the Tarutao National Park and Mu Ko Phetra National Park offices, Local Administrative Organizations, communities and ethnic groups, NGOs/CSOs, private sector, and government agencies and academic and research institutions engaged in sustainable marine and coastal and fisheries management in Satun Province, Thailand.

The training workshop generated draft action plans, policy and project proposals, and recommendations for enhancing integrated, inclusive and resilient governance and management of the protected areas, including potential Blue Economy investments and biodiversity-friendly enterprises. These were presented on the last day of the training workshop to the members of the Tarutao National Park Protected Area Committee and key observers/potential partners, for feedback and for consideration in their respective planning and budget frameworks. The workshop also recommended linking the management of Tarutao National Park and adjacent conservation areas.

27/05/2026

Sending warm wishes to all celebrating Eid al Adha this year 🌙
May the day be filled with reflection, gratitude, and shared joy✨

Eid Mubarak!

22/05/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲! 🐢🐠🐟🌳🌊

This year’s theme is "𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵," which highlights how grassroots efforts, community conservation, and local urban planning are crucial for the global Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

On this day, we feature the successfully conducted training workshops of 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐀𝐏𝐒 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 to foster Integrated and Sustainable Governance and Management for Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS).

The TBPPS is one of the key marine biodiversity corridors in the Philippines and the largest fishing ground in the Bicol region. It was established as a nationally protected area under Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the “Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018.” Spanning 413,745 hectares across the provinces of Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, and Camarines Sur, the area serves as a vital habitat for ecologically rich and biologically important marine species.

Check out the article below to know more about local and national concerted efforts to conserve, manage and restore this seascape!

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau
DENR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service

ASEAN ENMAPS Training participants and Bantay Dagat and City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) representatives during the site visit to the Bantay Dagat Patrol Base of Ligao City, Albay, Philippines.

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

PEMSEA thanks the University of Santo Tomas Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) Program for sending three young Library and Information Science graduate interns to the PEMSEA Resource Facility! Their fresh ideas and skills were very much welcomed, as they helped strengthen the practical operations of the Dr. Chua Thia-Eng Library and e-library systems, enhance the index term and subject headings bank for better cataloguing of digital and physical publications, and update PEMSEA library policies. This opportunity also allowed them to gain valuable hands-on experience in applying what they learned.