The Action Plan for the protection, management and development of the marine and coastal environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP) was adopted at the First Intergovernmental Meeting (Seoul, the Republic of Korea, 14 September 1994) by representatives of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russian Federation (hereafter as NOWPAP Members). The geographical scope for this Action Plan is the marine and coastal zone from about 121°E to 143°E and from approximately 33°N to 52°N (hereafter as NOWPAP Region), without prejudice to the sovereign right of any NOWPAP Members.