Prior to the 9th CEARAC FPM, the Expert Meeting on Marine Biodiversity and Eutrophication in the Northwest Pacific Region was organized (4-5 August 2011, Toyama, Japan) by the Northwest Pacific region Environmental Cooperation Center (NPEC) to exchange information on existing marine biodiversity-related activities in the NOWPAP member states, to review the final results of the eutrophication assessments implemented in the selected sea areas in the NOWPAP region, and to provide suggestions/advice to a draft workplan of CEARAC for the 2012-2013 biennium.