• Opening remarks: Mr. Ganbold Baasanjav, Head, ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office  
• Tour de Table
• Objectives and expected outcomes
• Group photo

The session will present national policies, legal instruments, and institutional arrangements from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation related to the conservation of marine mammals. It will also examine how marine protected areas (MPAs) are utilized to safeguard marine mammals and identify potential areas for strategic alignment and cooperation.  

• Moderator: Mr. Simon Gilby, Sustainable Development Officer, United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD)
• Speakers:
  • Mr. Zhang Zhaohui, Research Professor, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, and Deputy Director, China-PEMSEA Center
  • Ms. Kobayashi Mari, Professor, Tokyo Agriculture and Life Science University at Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan
  • Mr. Young Nam Kim, General Manager, Marine Protection and Restoration Department, Korea Marine Environment and Management Corporation (KOEM)
  • Mr. Aleksander Burdin, Leading scientist, Kamchatka Branch of Pacific Geographical Institute, Far East Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences

This session will examine the current scientific understanding of cetacean populations (e.g., finless porpoise) in North-East Asia, including major threats, ecological characteristics, and broader environmental pressures. Experts will highlight recent national and regional findings, identifying key data and knowledge gaps, such as species-specific information, monitoring limitations, and habitat connectivity that hinder effective conservation. The session will also explore opportunities to strengthen cross-border research collaboration and improve data sharing and coordination across countries. 

• Moderator: Ms. Sunmin Kim, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Republic of Korea
• Speakers:
  • Mr. Kexiong Wang, Professor, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Ms. Yuko Tajima, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan
  • Ms. Young Ran Lee, Founder and CEO, Plan Ocean, Republic of Korea
  • Mr. Aleksander Burdin, Leading scientist, Kamchatka Branch of Pacific Geographical Institute, Far East Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences

This session will review the current scientific understanding of pinniped populations (e.g., spotted seals) in North-East Asia, focusing on major threats, ecological traits, and broader environmental pressures. Experts will share recent national and regional findings, identifying key data and knowledge gaps, including species-specific information, monitoring limitations, and habitat connectivity that hinder effective conservation. The session will also explore opportunities to enhance cross-border research collaboration and improve data sharing and coordination across countries.

• Moderator: Mr. Young Nam Kim, General Manager, Marine Protection and Restoration Department, Korea Marine Environment and Management Corporation (KOEM)

• Speakers:
  • Mr. Hongfei Zhuang, Assistant Professor, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China
  • Ms. Kobayashi Mari, Professor, Tokyo Agriculture and Life Science University at Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan   
  • Mr. Gyeomjun Park, Senior Researcher, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Republic of Korea
  • Mr. Alexey Trukhin, Leading Researcher and Associate Professor, V.I.Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The session will introduce regional and global initiatives focused on marine mammal conservation. It will explore lessons learned, coordination mechanisms, and innovative practices from other regions that may offer insights and replicable models for North-East Asia. 

• Moderator: Mr. Riccardo Mesiano, Deputy Head, ESCAP East and North-East Asia
• Speakers:
  • Ms. Gill Braulik, Deputy Chair, IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force
  • Ms. Gianna Minton, Co-Chair, IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group
  • Mr. Simone Panigada, Chair of the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee, Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS)
  • Ms. Andrea Michelson, Regional Coordinator, Patagonian Forum
  • Ms. Huo Wang, Deputy Secretary General, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, Chief Editor of Marine Biodiversity, and Visiting Professor at Tianjin Foreign Studies University

This session will aim to explore practical steps to enhance subregional cooperation on marine mammals, such as joint research, harmonized monitoring, data and information sharing, policy dialogue, and NEAMPAN’s potential role in supporting subregional collaboration. 

• Moderator: Mr. Riccardo Mesiano, Deputy Head, ESCAP East and North-East Asia