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North West Pacific

Regional Coordinator

Regional Coordinator:

Kohei Hibino
Research Scientist

Japan Wildlife Research Center
3-10-10 Shitaya
Taito-ku
Tokyo 110-8676
Japan
Tel: +81 3 5824 0967
Fax: +81 3 5824 0968

Regional Statistics

Ocean Area (km²):	17,885,000
Number of MPAs:	212
MPA Area (km²):	81,400
Percent of region protected:	0.46

Regional characteristics

The North-West Pacific region offers wide rage of climate, ranging from sub-arctic in the north to tropical in the south. The seas and coastal areas in the region are influenced by the cold Oyashio Current (or Kurile Current) that originates in the Sea of Okhotsk and flows southward, and the warmer Kuroshio Current that originates in the western Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Taiwan and flows northeastward. The confluence zone where these two major currents meet gives rise to some of the most productive areas in the region. At northern area, cool but fertile waters support enormous fisheries, while at southern area, oligotrophic waters support development of tropical coral reefs and mangroves.... Read More

Oceans, Seas, and Countries Within Region

Oceans and seas within region

- identified using the 'Limits of Oceans and Seas', International Hydrographic Organisation Special Publication No.23; spatial data available here

South China Sea, Eastern China Sea, Yellow Sea, Inland Sea, Philippine Sea, Japan Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, Bering Sea, North Pacific Ocean

Countries within region

- identified using identified using VLIZ (2009). Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase. Available here

China, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Korea, North, Korea, South, Macau (China), Marcus Island (Japan), Ogasawara Islands (Japan), Russia, Ryukyu Islands (Japan), Satsunan Islands (Japan), Taiwan (China)

Regional Initiatives and Tools

NOWPAP (North-west Pacific Action Plan)

Learn more

NOWPAP was adopted in 1994 by the four Member States, namely the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation as a part of the UNEP Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 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.

The NOWPAP Data and Information Network Regional Activity Center (DINRAC) compiles national reports and is preparing a database on coastal and marine protected areas in the region.

visit http://www.nowpap.org/

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WWF Yellow Sea Ecoregion Planning Programme

Learn more

Yellow Sea is one of the Ecoregions identified as WWF as the most critical regions for conservation. It is located between China and Korea and is one of the largest shallow areas of continental shelf in the world including some large tidal flats. It is fed with freshwater from the world’s largest rivers such as the Yellow River and Chang Jiang and has depths in the range of 70-80 m.

The objectives of the project are to: (1) identify priority conservation activities for the ecoregion; (2) draw up a conservation action plan for the region; and (3) train leaders to implement the plan and establish conservation basis. The programme is managed by WWF-Japan in close collaboration with WWF-China, KORDI and other local stakeholders.

Other WWF’s Ecoregions in the North-West Pacific region includes Okhotsk Sea and Nansei shoto.

visit http://www.wwf.or.jp/eng/ecoregion/jp0069.htm

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Photo Gallery

Nicholas Dench, stock-xchng.com