Resolution on Prevention of Marine Pollution
16th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA – PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
21 – 24 January 2008, Auckland, New Zealand
Resolution on Prevention of Marine Pollution
APPF16/RES/06
(Sponsored by the Republic of Korea)
SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA–PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
Deploring South Korea's largest offshore oil spill that recently happened in the waters off the west coast, which threatens the marine environment and destroys the ecosystem in the sea;
Reaffirming the fact that marine environmental problems require international cooperation and efforts since damage and influence caused by such problems are not merely confined to one country but extend to its neighboring countries and the ocean as a whole;
Welcoming the activities carried out by Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) member States including China, Japan and Russia as well as APPF member countries to help clean up and recover from the oil spill off of South Korea's west coast in accordance with the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC) and NOWPAP;
RESOLVES TO:
- Urge all APPF member countries to recognize the need to preserve the marine environment that is the common heritage shared by all mankind and has unlimited potentials;
- Recommend APPF member countries to establish a regular monitoring system, and build up a stronger database on the existing information and data, in order to accurately understand the current status of marine pollution;
- Encourage APPF member countries to re-engineer applicable institutions including law enactment and system establishment in a well-organized manner, and to develop pragmatic technologies, aimed at preserving the marine environment;
- Make efforts to foster experts needed to assess and preserve the marine environment;
- Encourage international parliamentary organizations including the APPF to promote inter-parliamentary dialogue and to enhance cooperation with the international organizations concerned including International Maritime Organization (IMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), reaffirming the vital importance of preserving the marine environment for the future of mankind.
