GEF UNDP/GEF PROJECT ENTITLED “REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS IN THE YELLOW SEA LARGE MARINE ECOSYSTEM” UNDP/GEF/YS/RWG-B.3/5 Date: 15 September 2006 English only Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group for the Biodiversity Component Weihai, China, 20 - 23 October 2006 National Data and Information Collection Activity - Final Reports The activities to collect national biodiversity data and information from China and Republic of Korea were scheduled for implementation from August 2005 to March 2006. Progress reports and data collected-to-date were presented at the 2nd RWG-B Meeting (9-12 November 2005, Jeju, Republic of Korea). Since then, one draft final report and data have been submitted, and these data are being used for the regional synthesis and Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA). Another report was received in a very late stage that largely affected the preparation of the TDA, and overall implementation of the project. The contractors for the national data collection activity were the First Institute of Oceanography (China) and National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (Korea). One representative from each contracted institute will present the final results to the 3rd RWG-B Meeting. The reports attached hereafter, and the presentations given during Agenda 5.1.1 should highlight biodiversity status and trends of particular note, and include some summary analyses on the collected data and information. Some data from YSEPP will also be mentioned. After reviewing the reports and presentations, participants will discuss the information presented, and suggest how certain notable data and information could be included in the regional synthesis and TDA, even if it is difficult due to the delay in submitting the reports. It should be noted that due to various constraints existing in the participating countries regarding data exchange and sharing, the existing data has not been fully collected. This has largely affected better understanding of status and trends of marine biodiversity in the Yellow Sea. The members of the RWG-B will be invited to consider the existing constraints in the data and information collection, and make a proposal on how the scientific understanding on the marine biodiversity could be better enhanced. Biodiversity Data and Information Collection of YSLME Final Report Submitted to YSLME PMO and RWGB Prepared by Shang Chen, Qixiang Wang, Yalin Peng, Jian Liu, Zongling Wang and Ruixiang Li First Institute of Oceanography, SOA First draft， April 10, 2006 Second draft，August 30, 2006 Contents I. Background of assignment............................................................................................. 1 II. Methods used to carry out assignment ......................................................................... 1 III. Biodiversity problems and priorities.............................................................................. 6 IV. Preliminary causal chain analysis (CCA) ..................................................................... 6 1. Habitat loss................................................................................................................ 6 2. Habitat conversion..................................................................................................... 9 3. Loss of vulnerable species .......................................................................................11 3.1 Polychaete ..........................................................................................................11 3.2 Mollusk................................................................................................................11 3.3 Shrimp and Brachiopoda.................................................................................... 14 3.4 Fish .................................................................................................................... 14 3.5 Sea Turtle........................................................................................................... 17 3.6 Chinese finless porpoise.................................................................................... 17 3.7 Birds................................................................................................................... 17 4. Exotic species.......................................................................................................................22 4.1 Intentionally introduced species ......................................................................... 22 4.2 Non-intentionally introduced species: ................................................................ 22 5. Endemic species ..................................................................................................... 24 5.1 Hemichordata..................................................................................................... 24 5.2 Chinese sturgeon and Chinese paddlefish......................................................... 24 6. Degradation of genetic diversity .............................................................................. 27 V. Preliminary governance analysis ................................................................................ 29 1. Habitat loss.............................................................................................................. 29 2. Habitat conversion................................................................................................... 29 3. Loss of vulnerable species ...................................................................................... 29 4. Exotic species.......................................................................................................... 29 5. Loss of endemic species ......................................................................................... 29 6. Degradation of genetic diversity .............................................................................. 29 VI. Location of data & info and access to each site by the public.................................... 30 VII. Data and information table........................................................................................ 30 VIII. Data and information gaps....................................................................................... 30 IX. Changes in species composition, habitat, genetic diversity ....................................... 30 References...................................................................................................................... 32 Annex 1 Visited Websites................................................................................................ 34 Annex 2 Visited Institutions ............................................................................................. 35 I. Background of assignment In the approved Implementation Plan of the UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea Project, “Reducing Environmental Stress in the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem,” one of the main activities of the Biodiversity Component is to collect biodiversity-related data and information to input into the Biodiversity Chapter of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA). The objective of this task is to gather necessary data and information in the specified region to support or refute the Yellow Sea’s biodiversity problems identified by the Regional Working Group-Biodiversity (RWG-B) members. The TDA will be a scientifically-sound document containing objective data and information to determine the problems, their trends, and information gaps to recognise the problems. The problems and format and types of data and information to be collected were agreed by the members of the RWG-B at its first meeting (Qingdao, China, 19-22 April 2005). It was also agreed that both natural and socio-economic data and information should be collected as possible. Geographic Scope: The Yellow Sea large Marine Ecosystem is defined in this Project Document as the body of water delineated at the south, by a line connecting the north bank of the mouth of the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) to the south side of Cheju ; at the east, by a line connecting Cheju Island to Jindo Island along the coast of the ROK; and to the north, a line connecting Dalian to Penglai (on the Shandong Peninsula). This latter line separates the Bohai Sea from the Yellow Sea and as a result is not included in this study. II. Methods used to carry out assignment FIO formed one working group to carry out the task. The group consists of 4 scientists and 4 graduate students majoring marine ecology, environmental economy and marine management. The group members are listed in Table 1. Table 1 Name Listing of Project Members Name Nationalities Title Specialty Affiliation CHEN P R China Research Marine Ecology FIO,SOA Shang Professor WANG P R China Research Marine Ecology FIO,SOA Zongling Professor LI P R China Research Marine Biology FIO,SOA Ruixiang Professor SUN P R China Research Marine Management FIO,SOA Shuxian Professor WANG P R China Research Ocean Univ of Marine Ecology Qixiang Assistant China(OUC) 1 PENG P R China Research Marine Ecology OUC/FIO Yalin Assistant ZHENG P R China Research Environmental OUC/FIO Wei Assistant Economics P R China Graduate LIU Jian Marine Ecology FIO,SOA student The group held its first meeting in Qingdao, China, on 29 August 2005, to train project members how to collect biodiversity data and information. All project members participated this meeting except for Prof Sun. Prof. Chen introduced briefly YSLME project background and overall requirement of the contract