Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre
Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC)
As one of the four Regional Activity Centres (RACs) located in each menber state, NPEC has been designated as the Special Monitring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC), and has worked mainly on the assessment of harmful algae, establishment of new assessment methods including remote sensing, and tackled land-based sources of marine litter under a regional collaborative manner.
Tasks of NOWPAP Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC)
In order to protect the environment of the semi-enclosed Sea of Japan, it is essential that coastal countries, including those on the Yellow Sea, work together cooperatively. Consequently, CEARAC, cooperating with experts and government officials of the NOWPAP members and others, tackles marine environmental problems such as red tides and eutrophication, and protects marine biodiversity in the Northwest Pcific Region.
![Geograhical scope of NOWPAP](images/pic_cearac.jpg)
Activities of CEARAC (NOWPAP Regional Activity Centre)
1. Development of guidelines
CEARAC develops guidelines and booklets based on latest scientific knowledge in order to protect the marine environment in the Northwest Pacific Region.
![Eutrophication Monitoring Gudelines/Booklet of Countermeasures against HABs](images/photo01.jpg)
2. Organization of international expert meetings
Meetings, workshops and symposiums are regularly held with experts fron China, Japan, Korea and Russia and others.
![Expert Meeting on Assessment of Eutrophcation and Marine Biodiversity](images/photo02_1.jpg)
![Expert Meeting on Marine Biodiversity and Eutrophication in the Northwest Pacific Region](images/photo02_2.jpg)
3. Dissemination of achievements
In addition to dissemination of outcomes and achievements of CEARAC activities through its English website, some booklets are developed in the four languages of NOWPAP members to make technical details understood easily.
![Ocean Remote Sensing Portal Site/Regional report on measures and best practices for prevention of marine litter input from land-based sources in the NOWPAP region](images/photo03_1.jpg)
![Trainig on remote sensing data analysis](images/photo03_2.jpg)
Moreover, a training course on remote sensing data analysis is held regularly in the NOWPAP member states.