On 8 October, the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) together with the National Academy of Marine Research (NAMR) of Taiwan jointly organized an online workshop of Science and Technology for Ocean Policy Research. It has been the third time that two institutes to co-host workshop on special issue. In opening remarks, Dr. Tomonari Akamatsu, OPRI Research Director expressed the gratitude to NAMR on behalf of OPRI President Hide Sakaguchi, indicated that the annual workshop could be carried out online. The COVID-19 pandemic could not deprive both institutes of the enthusiasm, representing the resilience and persistence.

The workshop focuses on the theme of ocean visualization and underwater noise assessment. Experts from OPRI and NAMR made presentations and had vibrant discussion on the following topics:

I. Research Overview
-Moderator: Michael C. Huang, Research Fellow (OPRI)

“Underwater acoustics studies of NAMR”
Chih-Wei Chang, Director of Marine Ecology and Conservation Research Center;
Shih-Lin Hsu, Assistant Fellow of Marine Ecology and Conservation Research Center
“Overview of visualization, data platform project”
Hide Sakaguchi, President of OPRI
Tomonari Akamatsu, Research Director, OPRI

II. Underwater sound assessment on marine animals
Moderator: Hong-Young Yan, Distinguished Chair Professor, National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium

“Using soundscapes to assess changes in marine biodiversity”
Tzu-Hao LIN, Assistant Research Fellow, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica
“Habitat conservation and acoustic monitoring: a case study of dugong”
Kotaro Tanaka, Research Fellow, OPRI

III: Underwater noise assessment
Moderator: Chi-Fang Chen, Distinguished Professor, NTU

“Research on underwater noise transmission of offshore wind farm”
Linus Yung-Sheng Chiu, Associate Professor, Applied Marine Acoustics and Communication Laboratory, National Sun Yat-sen University
“A guidance for the underwater noise measurement and assessment”
Tomonari Akamatsu, Director of Research, OPRI

The content of presentation was comprehensive with cutting-edge methodology was prompted fruitful discussion among the participants, generating inspiration and innovative possibilities.

In the closing marks, Dr. Yung-Fang Chiu, President of NAMR, stated that the annual workshop enables the researchers from both institutes to demonstrate research outcomes with discovery of the potential for collaboration. Director Akamatsu also seconded with the announcement that the Japan-Taiwan ocean policy dialogue will become one of the flagship projects to deepen the academic interchange. OPRI and NAMR hope that the next annual meeting to be held on-sight in Taiwan or Japan.