During the meeting held yesterday (16), Deputy Minister Dr. Wen-Ling Hong of the Ocean Affairs Council engaged in extensive discussions with Mr. J. Charles Fox, the Executive Director of Oceans 5, along with Asia Program Manager Ms. Yuen-Ping Chow. The attendees included East Asia Manager Ms. Shao-Chi Chiu from the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Campaigner Mr. Meng-Hsun Chung from Greenpeace, covering topics such as marine conservation, the BBNJ Agreement, and international participation.

   Deputy Minister Hong stated that the Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan's cabinet-level agency dedicated to ocean governance, with its three subordinate agencies, the Coast Guard Administration, the Ocean Conservation Administration, and the National Academy of Marine Research, is committed to safeguarding the marine environment. The Council aligns with the international Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the global "2050 Net-Zero Carbon Emissions" declaration. Oceans 5 has long supported civil society for sustainable marine projects, sharing values similar to those of Taiwan. Deputy Minister Hong expressed the hope for future collaboration between the Ocean Affairs Council and Oceans 5, working together towards a sustainable ocean.

   Executive Director Mr. Fox of Oceans 5 inquired about the progress of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Taiwan and the response to the BBNJ Agreement regarding biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. In response, Director General Dr. Hsiang-Wen Huang of the Ocean Conservation Administration explained that Taiwan currently has 47 designated MPAs. The Ocean Conservation Administration actively promotes and supports MPA policies regarding MPAs and other effective conservation measures (OECM), marine carbon sinks, and the restoration of coral reef ecosystems. These actions are in line with international trends in marine conservation.

   Regarding the BBNJ Agreement, Deputy Director Ms. Shan-Ying Lee of the Department of International Development added that Taiwan is not a UN member and cannot formally sign and become a Party to the agreement. However, ongoing research and discussion are being conducted to align Taiwan's domestic laws with international treaties to ensure Taiwan's contribution to biodiversity efforts.

   Executive Director Mr. Fox mentioned that Oceans 5 actively advocates guidelines for establishing MPAs and OECM as international standards. He hoped that Taiwan could contribute and benefit by mutually sharing experiences. Oceans 5 expressed a keen interest in advancing efforts with the Council to strengthen partnerships between the public and private sectors.