The ESCAP/UNEP/SACEP Intergovernmental Meeting on Capacity-building in Coastal Environmental Management in the South Asian Seas Region was held at New Delhi from 17 to 19 May 1994. The meeting was attended by representatives of all the maritime States of the South Asian seas region: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. There were observers from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, \ Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The meeting considered :

* The need for regional cooperation on identified and agreed priority areas.

* Formulation of pilot projects in an implementable manner to facilitate necessary research and planning on national level.

* The need for reshaping of the existing regional oil spill contingency plan.

* The importance of placing the Regional Seas Programme in a global perspective.

* The particular relevance of coastal zone management to island States for assessment of marine diversity.

* Setting up of protected area system and protection of coral reefs.

* The development of economic assessment methodologies for coastal resources and activities.

* The development and application of socio-economic apprisal instruments.

* The need for an early adoption of the action plan for the South Asean Seas.

* The need for capacity building and funding requirements through Global Environment Facility especially as emphasised in Agenda 21 of Earth Summit.

* State of coastal and marine environment in the region and national strategies and actions.