The Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore (NUS) organised a conference on Regional Cooperation for the Protection of the Marine Environment. The Conference was conducted to discuss collaborative efforts by existing regional bodies and platforms and also find ways to enhance the state of the marine environment in the region. These included the legal background, international and regional frameworks, and institutional set-ups.
Specifically, the Forum was supported by JCLOS, K.G. Jebsen Centre for the Law of the Sea, and took place on the 15 to 16 January.
It highlighted the OSPAR Convention and the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) to get an insight in the region.
Moreover, other matters that were discussed on the Forum were the challenges, prospects and key issues on marine pollution and environmental protection, as ship pollution and plastic debris.
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The Forum attracted up to 90 participants, renowned and experts from the region and abroad.
Cheryl Rita Kaur, Head of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Environment and Jalila Jalil, Senior Researcher from the Centre for Straits of Malacca represented MIMA.
Cheryl Rita and Fairoz Rozali from the Marine Department Malaysia issued a paper, on which they highlighted national efforts and actions to regional and international commitments on addressing ships source pollution.
Finally, the forum was a good opportunity to address regional drivers and prospects including legal and political issues, the role of science, and financial assistance. Discussions focused on the future and prospects for enhanced cooperation within ASEAN.