Youna Lyons, Cheng Ling Lim and Yulu Liu were invited to present on the ongoing project to develop a regional research network in the region of East Asian Seas, at the the 4^th Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) Working Group on Marine Litter. The meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, 10-11 October 2022 in a hybrid format and it was attended by delegations of COBSEA member states and observers.

Cheng Ling and Yulu’s virtual presentation first introduced the development of the research network, which is an ongoing effort since 2016, with multiple supports from and outside the region, including the funding from COBSEA. At this moment, the network has received generous support and good will from eleven research institutes in the region and has gathered more than 30 researchers from Southeast and East Asia. The presentation then illustrates the steps needed for collected data to transform into policy-ready information to inform decision makers in relevant scenarios in the region, including for instance, sources and pathways of marine plastic pollution and the effectiveness of policy responses. The presentation also highlights the overall goals of the network and visions shared by regional members, who showed their full support for updating and maintaining the regional research inventory, and their interest in future research activities (in-person workshops, webinars and joint research projects). The research network also aspires to expand its memberships in the Southeast and East Asian region, as well as seeking funding and support for sustainable operation and coordination of the network.

The presentation slides can be downloaded here WGML Pres 11 Oct 2022