The WESTPAC Training Workshop on Distribution, Source, Fate and Impacts of Marine Microplastics (MPs) in Asia and the Pacific will take place in Phuket, Thailand, on 20-22 September 2017 with generous financial support of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO, and kind offer of the Phuket Marine Biological Center to host the training workshop.
Considering the status of marine microplastic pollution in the Western Pacific, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) established, at its 11th Session (21-23 April 2017, Qingdao, China), a regional programme with a view to assisting its Member States to comprehensively understand the distribution, source, fate and effects of marine MPs in the Western Pacific and provide scientific guidance for remediation measures. Meanwhile, standardized and internationally accepted sampling and analyzing procedures to compare spatiotemporal MP pollution across marine environments, shall be considered.
As a newly established programme, the inception workshop aims to: (i) establish the MP research network among scientists, institutions and agencies in the region; (ii) identify knowledge gaps on microplastic pollution in the region; (iii) review and standardize MP field sampling and laboratory analyzing methods; (iv) initiate joint research plans for the distribution, source and fate of MPs in the region; and (v) discuss the feasibility of developing marine ecological risk assessment of MPs.
This wil be the first training workshop of the programme. During plenary sessions, invited keynote presentations will be given about marine MP research, including the status of marine MP distributions in global and regional, known potential impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems; global programmes on marine MP research and monitoring efforts; and present practices of ecological risk assessment on marine MPs to marine ecosystems. National experts nominated and/or identified from each country will be invited to provide reports on research and monitoring efforts on the effects of marine MPs on marine organism and Ecosystems, or related activities, in their respective countries.
The participants will break into several groups (probably by sub-regions) to have detailed discussions about gaps, challenges, and opportunities to initiate a cooperative regional network to monitor and conduct research on the impacts of marine MPs on marine ecosystems.
Preferably one or two scientists who have experience in conducting marine MP related research and monitoring, and are able to lead and carry out marine MP research and monitoring in their countries will be invited from each country.
Fore more information please go to: http://iocwestpac.org
