PEMSEA

What PEMSEA does

PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) is a regional intergovernmental coordinating mechanism headquartered in Quezon City, Philippines, that facilitates cooperation on the sustainable development of seas and coasts across East Asia. Originating as the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas (MPP-EAS) established in 1994, PEMSEA now operates as the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and convenes 11 country partners, 22 non-country partners, 59 PNLG local government members, and 25 PNLC learning center members under the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) Implementation Plan 2023-2030. Its core technical offerings are governance frameworks rather than technology products, principally the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Code, ICM Cycle methodology, ICM System and Professional Certification, the Regional Blue Carbon Accounting Protocol (RBCAP), the SDS-SEA Implementation Plan, and the State of the Coasts Reporting System. PEMSEA has mainstreamed ICM across 86,284.80 km of coastline, representing 37.9% of the East Asian Seas region's coastline, and runs the triennial East Asian Seas Congress plus project-specific convenings as its principal engagement channels.

PEMSEA's revenue model is grant-funded rather than commercial. Total receipts of USD 4.16 million (2025 audited financial statements) and projected receipts of USD 6.7 million for 2026-2027 are sourced from project implementation funding via GEF and UNDP, bilateral ODA — notably from the Republic of Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries for the Marine Plastics Project (2023-2028) and SEA-MaP — and in-kind contributions from country and non-country partners. Active project portfolio includes the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project, the ATSEA Program, GloFouling Partnerships, the PRICELESS Project (Philippine Rise), ASEANO (ASEAN-Norwegian Cooperation Project on Local Capacity Building), and the SEA-MaP initiative. The organization has 11-50 employees and is led by Executive Director Aimee T. Gonzales, with governance through the Partnership Council (chaired by Atty. Jonas Leones), Executive Committee, Ministerial Forum, and Management and Secretariat.

PEMSEA's go-to-market is event- and convening-driven rather than sales-driven. Distribution is conducted through direct intergovernmental engagement, ministerial forums, the triennial EAS Congress, Executive Committee and Partnership Council meetings, PNLG Forums, PNLC General Assemblies, and project-specific workshops. Marketing and outreach rely on content channels including the SEA Knowledge Bank, monthly eBulletin newsletter, State of Oceans and Coasts reports, social media, and video storytelling. PEMSEA does not sell products or services; publications are distributed for free, and all revenue is grant-based.

Name

PEMSEA

Legal name

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia

Website

https://pemsea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PEMSEA is a Philippines-based regional intergovernmental coordinating mechanism that facilitates cooperation among 11 East Asian Seas country partners, local governments, and learning centers on sustainable coastal and marine management under the SDS-SEA framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Manila

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Project Implementation Funding: PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) receives funding from international donors including GEF, UNDP, and bilateral government partnerships for implementing environmental management projects across the East Asian Seas region. The 2025 audited financial statements show total receipts of USD 4.16 million.
2. Bilateral Government Funding Partnerships: Funding from partner governments such as Republic of Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries for specific ODA projects like the Marine Plastics Project and SEA-MaP.
3. Network Membership and Participation: PEMSEA facilitates participation from 11 country partners, 22 non-country partners, 59 PNLG local government members, and 25 PNLC learning center members who contribute to regional coordination.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PEMSEA is a regional intergovernmental coordinating mechanism that facilitates cooperation among East Asian Seas countries, local governments, and partners for the sustainable development and management of coastal and marine resources. It delivers integrated coastal management (ICM) frameworks, implements the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), advances Blue Economy and Blue Carbon initiatives, and provides capacity building, policy advisory, and knowledge management services to governments and partners in the region.

Product overview

PEMSEA is a regional coordinating mechanism for the sustainable development of seas and coasts in East Asia, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core offerings include the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) framework with associated certification programs, the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) as the regional policy framework, and the SEA Knowledge Bank as the digital knowledge repository. Major initiatives include the Marine Plastics ODA Project, ATSEA Program, Integrated River Basin Management Project, GloFouling Partnerships Project, PRICELESS, ASEANO, and SEA-MaP addressing specific environmental challenges. PEMSEA convenes stakeholders through the triennial East Asian Seas Congress and maintains three networks: the Network of Local Governments (59 members), Network of Learning Centers (25 members), and Network of Young Leaders. The organization also produces State of the Coasts reports and publishes a comprehensive library of technical publications, manuals, and newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF): The administrative and secretariat arm of PEMSEA
• PNLC - PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers
• PNLG - PEMSEA Network of Local Governments
• PNYL - PEMSEA Network of Young Leaders
• EAS Congress

Products and services

• Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Programs
• Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) Implementation
• Blue Economy and Blue Carbon Programs
• Capacity Building and Training
• State of the Seas (SOS) Reports and Knowledge Products
• Partnership Network of Local Governments (PNLG)
• Partnership Network of Local Centers (PNLC)

Quantifiable outcome

• 37.9% of East Asian Seas region's coastline covered by ICM program, surpassing targets ahead of schedule
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASEANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for implementation of IRBM Project across ASEAN Member States. Joint initiatives on integrated river basin management, marine pollution reduction, and sustainable coastal development.
• Country Partners (11)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational government partners including Cambodia, PR China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam actively participating in regional marine governance through SDS-SEA implementation.
• Non-Country Partners (22)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGOs, research institutions, and development organizations contributing to PEMSEA's work including technical expertise, project implementation support, and knowledge products.
• PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) - 59 MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of local government units implementing ICM programs and blue economy initiatives at municipal level across the East Asian Seas region.
• PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) - 25 MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of academic and research institutions conducting coastal and marine research, training, and knowledge sharing including IPB University, UP Marine Science Institute, and Xiamen University.
• University of Hawai'iminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of PNLC Blue Carbon Workshops and collaborator on Blue Carbon Initiative for the network. Provides academic expertise on blue carbon research and methodologies.
• DENR PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for PEMSEA headquarters in Quezon City. Active partner in coastal management, marine protected areas, and Philippine Rise conservation projects.
• IMO (International Maritime Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partner from GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme for Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution. Continued collaboration on maritime environmental management.
• Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-country partner and co-convener of Blue Carbon International Seminar with Korea Maritime Institute for regional expertise sharing.
• ASEAN Centre for BiodiversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ASEAN ENMAPS project for strengthening marine protected area management through ICM and marine spatial planning training.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PEMSEA
• YouTubevimeo.com/pemsea
• Facebookfacebook.com/pemsea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pemsea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PEMSEA