Under the aegis of UNEP, Japan, China, Korea, and Russia established NOWPAP in 1994 and have worked ever since to promote cooperation on conservation of the marine environment in the Northwest Pacific region. As more than 10 years have passed since the beginning of NOWPAP, a shift from a discussion-centered cooperation to an implementation-oriented cooperation is now anticipated.

The Panel for Integrated Coastal Observations (PICO) shows that we have entered an era in which the coastal oceanography heretofore carried out by individual states in their own waters can now be carried out according to a set of global standards, allowing for mutual comparisons and mutual benefit. The operational observation systems in support of research are also now able to be planned and implemented within global frameworks.

Co-existence is possible between whaling and whale watching and their conservation is compatible with their use. I would like to provide concrete examples of this. While scientific surveys and protection of whales must be carried out, they must also be managed sustainably as a resource and utilized effectively in a variety of ways to promote the welfare of humankind.