Report on the workshop on Understanding and Accelerating Actions on OECMs in the Marine and Coastal Areas of East Asian Seas

COBSEA and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) organized a regional knowledge-sharing and learning exchange on 14–16 August 2025 in Iloilo City, Philippines.

The event provided a platform for participating East Asian Seas countries to present progress on their marine OECM initiatives and collaboratively explore ideas with fellow member states and subject matter experts, refining them to better fit the region’s specific contexts. It also highlighted best practices and offered a set of adaptable strategies for countries to implement according to their national priorities.

The learning exchange brought together more than 40 participants representing government and non-government organizations, academic and research institutions, as well as regional and intergovernmental bodies.