On November 13, the Ocean Affairs Council hosted the "Indo-Pacific Region Forum on Combating Marine Plastic Waste Governance" in Hualien, bringing together nearly eighty representatives from government, industry, and academia across eight countries: Palau, Maldives, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Centred on the themes of policy and regulation, innovative technology, and public-private partnerships, the forum examined plastic waste governance and the establishment of a regional cooperation network, advancing cross-border collaboration to address the problem of marine plastic debris.
Opening remarks by Deputy Minister Huang Hsiang-wen of the Ocean Affairs Council
In his opening address, Deputy Minister Huang Hsiang-wen explained that Hualien was chosen as the venue to give international guests a deeper understanding of Taiwan — its natural environment and its resilience. Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei made a special appearance to welcome attendees, emphasising that sustainability is a way of life in Hualien and that marine debris can only be effectively tackled through international cooperation. National Dong Hwa University President Hsu Hui-ming also expressed his full support for the forum's initiatives and actions.
Steven Victor, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of Palau, opened by noting that Pacific small island nations bear the brunt of high concentrations of ocean-drifting waste. These island nations are working together to improve biodiversity and advance the Blue Pacific initiative, and are seeking funding to drive related efforts. He also extended special thanks to Taiwan for its extensive support in marine technology, training, and plastic reduction contributions, highlighting the potential of Indo-Pacific regional cooperation.
The forum's three main themes focused on "Policy and Legal Frameworks," "Innovative Technology," and "Public-Private Partnerships in ESG Governance." During the "Policy and Legal Frameworks" session, representatives from Taiwan, Maldives, Indonesia, and Thailand outlined relevant policies, regulations, and measures. Taiwan's Marine Conservation Administration presented concrete actions across five dimensions: investigation and monitoring, removal, recycling and reuse, education and outreach with expanded partnerships, and international cooperation and exchanges. To date, these efforts have engaged nearly 6,000 vessels in its eco-fleet, more than 4,000 volunteer underwater cleaners, and a marine debris recycling alliance built on broad public-private collaboration.
The Maldives has introduced plastic tariffs, banned low-capacity PET bottles, and restricted single-use plastics in hotels, successfully reducing waste by 76%. The Indonesian government has passed three major pieces of legislation and, through a National Action Plan and "Love the Ocean Month" campaigns, has raised awareness among fisherfolk, with the goal of reducing marine debris by 70% by 2025.
Thailand stopped using plastic bottle caps in 2019; banned polystyrene containers and thin plastic bags in 2022; and will prohibit single-use plastic cups and straws in 2025. It is also promoting 100% biodegradable, zero-waste cups to reduce plastic waste. All speakers underscored the importance of public education and outreach.
Steven Victor, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of Palau, delivering a keynote address
In the "Innovative Technology" session, Far Eastern New Century showcased its land, sea, and air recycling strategy — notably its collaboration with international environmental organisations to help small island nations such as Maldives recover marine debris, and its partnerships with brands to produce tens of millions of pairs of shoes and garments, demonstrating how recycled materials can be transformed into high-value products. Indonesia and Vietnam introduced innovations including the use of seaweed to produce bioplastics, incorporating recycled plastic into road asphalt, and promoting pyrolysis technology to convert plastic waste into fuel. Additional approaches covered drone and GPS monitoring of plastic waste hotspots, advances in plastic-waste-to-energy technology, the use of fishing vessels to collect waste, and the promotion of "ocean houses" (similar to recycling stations) to encourage fishers to bring back collected waste — all aimed at effectively addressing the marine debris challenge. A researcher from Academia Sinica recommended that governments standardise sampling and monitoring methods and conduct long-term microplastics monitoring.
Group photo from the Public-Private Partnerships in ESG Governance session (from left: Kentaro Nakamura, Manager of the International Cooperation Subcommittee, Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA), Japan; Abdulla, Senior Analyst, Environmental Protection Agency, Maldives; Huang Hsiang-wen, Deputy Minister, Ocean Affairs Council; Nguyen, Deputy Director and Co-founder, Green Development Support Centre GreenHub, Vietnam; Professor Su Ming-chien, National Dong Hwa University; Calogero Gianluca Borongan, Director of Waste and Resource Management, Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific)
The "Public-Private Partnerships in ESG Governance" session highlighted the importance of business-government collaboration in marine conservation. The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (Thailand), Japan's Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA), and Vietnamese NGO GreenHub shared successful case studies in corporate cooperation, community-level plastic reduction, and improving women's livelihoods. CLOMA began its education and outreach efforts by engaging the families of nearly one million employees and proposed the concept of a model community. Speakers emphasised the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the influence of ESG, noting that government policy guidance and economic incentives are equally indispensable.
Participants engaged in lively discussion regarding the fifth round of plastic treaty negotiations scheduled for late November in South Korea. While all countries recognise the urgency of effectively managing plastic waste — including developing alternative materials and ensuring robust recycling systems and legislation — some delegates expressed concern that certain plastic products remain difficult to ban outright (such as those used in healthcare and automotive applications). Given that industries have not yet developed sufficient transitional technologies or financing, and that developing nations' infrastructure and governance systems are still maturing, some treaty provisions remain open for negotiation. Attendees called on governments to promptly assess the impact of the draft convention on the plastics industry and provide feasible complementary measures and timelines. On the crisis of microplastics, regulatory approaches vary by country; continued research and the pursuit of innovative technologies were identified as essential responses.
At the closing ceremony, the Ocean Affairs Council summarised three shared goals for future cooperation: "implementing cross-border collaboration," "strengthening investment in and application of innovative technology," and "enhancing corporate cooperation to advance ESG." The Council also elaborated on the "Indo-Pacific Regional Marine Debris Cooperation Platform," hoping to foster collaboration among the private sector across Indo-Pacific nations through technical exchange workshops and data-sharing platforms. This forum marks an important step for Taiwan in marine conservation across the Indo-Pacific region. The Ocean Affairs Council will continue to follow the fifth round of plastic treaty negotiations and chart future cooperation priorities, working in concert to reduce marine debris across Indo-Pacific waters.
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