On April 21, 2025, the 7-day Training on "Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Application in the Scaling-up of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM)" officially commenced in Xiamen. Over 40 researchers from 20 institutions across 11 countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, participated in the event. Targeting members of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) as well as professionals from maritime institutions in the East Asian Seas region, the training aimed to foster expertise in ICM and MSP by exploring their core concepts, the role of land-sea coordination in MSP, and the development of training frameworks, thereby advancing capacity-building in this field.
The training, supervised by the China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF), was jointly organized by Fujian Institute for Sustainable Oceans (Xiamen University) (hereinafter referred to as FISO)/ Sustainable Coastal Development Capacity-Building Research Lab (SCD Lab) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).
On April 21, 2025, the 7-day Training on "Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Application in the Scaling-up of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM)" officially commenced in Xiamen. Over 40 researchers from 20 institutions across 11 countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, participated in the event. Targeting members of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) as well as professionals from maritime institutions in the East Asian Seas region, the training aimed to foster expertise in ICM and MSP by exploring their core concepts, the role of land-sea coordination in MSP, and the development of training frameworks, thereby advancing capacity-building in this field.
The training, supervised by the China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF), was jointly organized by Fujian Institute for Sustainable Oceans (Xiamen University) (hereinafter referred to as FISO)/ Sustainable Coastal Development Capacity-Building Research Lab (SCD Lab) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).
Opening Ceremony and Lectures
The opening ceremony was held at Xiamen Hotel on April 21, followed by a series of thematic lectures.
Professor Pan Xinchuan delivered the first lecture titled "Strategizing the Oceans: China’s Practices and Achievements", in which he highlighted China’s progress across several key areas: the development of marine legal and planning systems, high-quality growth of the marine economy, advances in marine ecological civilization, increased self-reliance in marine science and technology, promotion of marine culture, safeguarding maritime security and rights, modernization of naval forces, and the pursuit of a shared future for the ocean.
Professor Ario Damar from IPB University’s Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (Indonesia) elaborated on the concepts and framework of ICM, showcasing its role in ecological restoration, pollution control, and blue economy development. He emphasized ICM as a critical tool for addressing coastal environmental challenges and driving sustainable economic growth.
Ms. Nancy Bermas, PEMSEA Regional Program Manager, shared PEMSEA’s practical experiences in promoting ICM across the East Asian Seas. Taking the Arafura & Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA) Program as an example, she highlighted their efforts on coastal governance, marine sustainable development, cultivation of young marine talents etc. in collaboration with multiple countries.
Professor Xue Xiongzhi, Dean of FISO and Director of the SCD Lab, analyzed the reinforcement effect between ICM and MSP. Using Xiamen’s practices as a case study, he explained how ICM provides institutional safeguards through legislation and coordination, while MSP offers scientific guidance and technologies, therefore forming an effective pathway for sustainable coastal development.
Dr. Kong Hao, Associate Research Fellow at the Fujian Institute of Oceanography and Deputy Director of the Fujian Key Laboratory of Island and Coastal Zone Management, elaborated on the land-sea coordination strategies in MSP. He illustrated these concepts with Fujian’s coastal planning cases and proposed a smart decision-making system for coastal zone management, sparking lively discussions among participants.
Ms. Luo Shuyu, International Affairs Specialist of FISO, introduced six ICM demonstration sites in Xiamen: Baicheng Beach, Yundang Lake, Gaoji Causeway, Xiamen Horticulture Expo Garden, Guanyinshan Beach, and Wuyuan Bay. These sites exemplify Xiamen’s achievements in balancing ecological conservation with urban development through tailored ICM and MSP approaches.
Training expert Mr. Gil Dennis Raposa conducted sessions on effective training methods and presentation skills. During the interactive session that followed, the participants applied the skills learned on stage for presentation and received comments from Mr. Gil.
Field Visits
Field visits to Xiamen’s ICM demonstration sites (Baicheng Beach, Yundang Lake, Gaoji Causeway, Xiamen Horticulture Expo Garden, Guanyinshan Beach, and Wuyuan Bay) allowed participants to observe firsthand how ICM and MSP tools harmonize ecological restoration, spatial optimization, blue economy development, and biodiversity conservation. The "Xiamen ICM Model" provided insights and reference for coastal governance in their home countries.
Training Simulation and Course Development
A highlight of the training program was the simulation exercise, in which participants delivered individual presentations based on assigned topics, integrating coastal characteristics and sustainable development challenges of different countries. These presentations were followed by feedback from a panel of experts. In addition, the program featured workshops focused on the development and enhancement of the ICM-MSP training curriculum. Participants worked in groups to design and present training modules, which were also reviewed by the expert panel. The expert panel further provided insights into the challenges and best practices in training development, implementation, and evaluation. These activities enhanced participant engagement and interaction, offering a platform to demonstrate their expertise and training skills, while also contributing valuable experience for the design and implementation of future training courses.
Capacity-Building Network Discussion
Participants also engaged in in-depth discussions on building a collaborative network for capacity-building in sustainable coastal development. Ms. Ye Liangying, Executive Director of FISO’s Department of Capacity Building and Communication, introduced the SCD Lab jointly established by CODF and Xiamen University, and supported by FISO. She shared the lab’s key achievements and future outlook. The lab’s flagship product — the Capacity Index of Sustainable Coastal Development for Countries Along the Maritime Silk Road (CISCD) — along with the “Xiamen University Sustainable Coastal Development Scholarship,” sparked lively discussion. Many participants expressed strong interest in contributing to the development of follow-up outputs of the CISCD, such as country-specific studies, and offered to help disseminate scholarship information in their home countries to encourage more local students to apply for marine-related master’s and doctoral programs at Xiamen University.
Ms. Isdahartati Ibnu Izhar, PNLC Secretariat Coordinator and researcher at IPB University, Indonesia, presented an overview of PNLC’s member institutions and coordination mechanisms. As a regional alliance of higher education and research institutions in the East Asian Seas region, PNLC has long been committed to supporting sustainable development of coastal areas through academic training, outreach, policy advice, technical assistance, and capacity building. Ms. Maida Aguinaldo, Training and Capacity Development Manager at PEMSEA, then introduced and demonstrated their development of the Sea Knowledge Bank.
Closing Ceremony and Certificate Presentation
At the closing ceremony of the training program, Ms. Nancy Bermas, Prof. Li Yangfan, and Dr. Kong Hao presented training certificates to the trainees. Representing the trainees, Mr. Rudhi Pribadi, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Diponegoro University; Associate Professor Marie Francies Nievales from the University of the Philippines Visayas; and Associate Professor Chen Cheng Ann from the Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, delivered remarks. They expressed sincere gratitude to the organizers, shared their appreciation for Xiamen’s achievements in sustainable coastal development, and reflected on the fruitful outcomes of the training. They also expressed their hope to share the experiences and insights gained in Xiamen with a broader audience.
The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Nancy Bermas and Prof. Li Yangfan. Ms. Bermas first thanked FISO for its strong support and thoughtful preparations for the training. She believes that the collaboration with FISO would contribute to the broader application of ICM and MSP across the East Asian Seas region. She noted that PEMSEA is currently focused on two projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and expressed hope that FISO and all participating institutions would join in refining and promoting the related training manuals and tools. She then envisioned continued regional cooperation to advance ICM and MSP capacity building.
On behalf of FISO, Prof. Li Yangfan extended heartfelt thanks to PEMSEA and all participants for their strong support. He emphasized the critical role of capacity-building activities in promoting ICM and sustainable coastal development in the region, and expressed hope that the “Xiamen ICM Model” could serve as a valuable reference for other countries. He also expressed FISO’s commitment to deepening its partnership with PEMSEA and establishing long-term collaboration mechanisms. Finally, he encouraged participants to actively share what they learned from the training and promote the localized application of ICM and MSP, expressing anticipation for future cooperation in advancing sustainable coastal development.
The workshop established a robust platform for knowledge exchange, strengthened consensus on sustainable marine governance, and identified new opportunities for collaboration in MSP and coastal management. Participants expressed strong interest in future partnerships with FISO, injecting fresh momentum into building a maritime community with a shared future under the Belt and Road Initiative. This event marked a critical step in translating regional maritime cooperation from concept alignment to actions.
