Conference Summary 1 st Regional Science Conference 2007

Conference Summary 1 st Regional Science Conference 2007. 8. 14 -16 Sinjae Yoo

The objective of the first conference v To display the scientific and environmental knowledge of the Yellow Sea, including both natural and social sciences, and discuss how the knowledge can be used for better management of the Yellow Sea, in particular, for the preparation of Strategic Action Programme (SAP)

Key notes v Conceptual framework of Ecosystem Carrying Capacity (Yoo) v Circulation patterns and characteristics in YS (Qiao) v BCLME overview (Sardinha)

Regulation/Supporting services: nutrient & material cycling v Nutrients inputs and distribution (Wen) v River loading of nutrients (Zuo) v Atmospheric deposition and nutrient budget (Liu) v Eutrophication (H. Kim) v Organic matter distribution in the sediments (Yoon)

Supporting Services: Lower Trophic Level v Long-term trends of Phytoplankton and zooplankton, benthos, and HAB (Zhu) v Zooplankton distribution and abundance (Kang) v Copepod grazing pressure on phytoplankton (Seo) v Yellow dust influences on phytoplankton (Choi), (Xu) v Jellyfish blooms as a transboundary issue beyond YS (Uye) v Impacts of sand mining on biological communities (Han)

Provisioning services: Higher Trophic Level v Status and management issues in fisheries (Lee) v Review mariculture trends(Jang) v Deep-sea aquaculture (Cho) v Diseases control and prevention in mariculture (Park)

Supporting services: Biodiversity v Status of endangered aquatic species and conservation in China (Y. Wang) v Yellow Sea Ecoregion Planning program (S. Wang) v Critical habitats in relation to biodiversity (Tobai) v EIA for water birds in YS (Pae)

Cultural services v. Educational opportunity (Yu) v. Marine tourism in Korea (S. Kim)

Monitoring v China-Korea cooperative monitoring (An) v CPR observation (Zhu) v Monitoring status in Shandong area (Wei)

Management v Marine asset and its characteristics (Zeng) v Emergy approach to determine carrying capacity (Kang) v River and coastal area management in NOWPAP region (Kachur) v A practical approach to the sustainable management of LMEs (Jin) v Cost and benefit analysis (Li) v Improving regional governance (Chung)

Future directions: Inputs into SAP v One major output of YSLME 1 st phase is SAP (Strategic Action Plan). v We need your feedback based on what you know about the status and trends in various aspects of YS ecosystem. v Consider what can be and should done by 2020 in each area pertinent to ecosystem management. v Practical approach is desirable.

Future directions: Physical env. v Is the Cold Water mass shrinking and warming? v How the climate change will affect the circulation pattern? • Upwelling & downwelling • stratification v How YWC will change?

Future directions: Chemistry v How the atmospheric and river nutrient inputs into YS are related to land use? v What is the impact of N/P/Si change on the ecosystem in the long run? v Develop environmental engineering to reduce the nutrient loading.

Future directions: Lower Trophic Level Ecosystem v The different trends in phyto- and zooplankton v v documented from east and west should be resolved (sampling differences or real phenomenon? ) Annual primary productivity of YS should be assessed with a reasonable accuracy. Possibly, based on this, carrying capacity of provisioning services can be estimated. Monitoring the distribution and population dynamics of Jellyfish in YS. Identify controlling factors of food web interaction

Future directions: Higher Trophic Level Ecosystem v Determine reasonable management guideline. v Disease (including parasites) • What is the trend of spreading in extent and rate? • Monitoring is necessary? • What would be the effective prevention and controlling methods? • What are the impacts on natural populations?

Future directions: Monitoring v Conduct and continue intercomparison and harmonize methodologies v Ship Monitoring with more frequent samplings rather than annual broad-scale sampling v Expand monitoring network with new platforms such as ferries v On-going development of ocean color algorithm will enhance the utility of satellite data. v Establish long-term C-K Joint-cruise monitoring including fisheries and microbial loop

Future directions: Biodiversity v Further prioritization of PPA v More information on the less studied species including migratory species v Incorporate information of EIA from North Korea. v Evaluate management effectiveness v Review and synthesize information on invasive species v Assessment of ecosystem services from critical habitats

Future directions Cultural services v Expand educational opportunities v Combine marine education with tourism, festival, and v v v other cultural activities Enhance educational functions of NGOs and media Train and support educators Encourage universities and institutes for public education Educational systems (curriculum, etc) Promote to establish active NGOs Coordinate joint activities in marine archeological surveys in China and Korea

Future directions management issues v Develop practical methodologies to assess carrying capacity v Create YSLME commission v Strengthen cooperation between international programs/organizations, e. g. , YSLME-NOWPAP, UNEP, FAO v Utilize the relevant economic methodologies for better management