History

Year	Key EMECS Event
1971	The Governors and Mayors’ Conference on the Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea is established to work for conservation of the environment of the Seto Inland Sea. “The Seto Inland Sea Charter on Environmental Protection” is adopted.
1973	“Law Concerning Provisional Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea” is enacted and promulgated.
1976	“Law Concerning Special Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea” is enacted and promulgated. The Association for the Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea is established to promote both public and private activities to conserve the environment of the Seto Inland Sea.
1987	The researching group, including Dr. Ian Morris from the University of Maryland, visits Japan to study enclosed coastal seas. Exchange of views and discussions are held with relevant domestic organizations. The Governors and Mayors’ Conference on the Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea adopts the statement “Appeal ‘87 for the Creation of a New Seto Inland Sea”.
1990	August, the 1st International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS ’90) is held in Kobe through the co-sponsorship of the Environment Agency, the Governors and Mayors’ Conference on the Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea, the Association for the Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea, Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City and the National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA). Training course “System of Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas” is organized to train persons of developing countries. EMECS newsletter is published as a forum for the exchange of information.
1992	An interdisciplinary research team “The Research Institute of the Seto Inland Sea (RISIS)” is established based on “The Seto Inland Sea Declaration (EMECS 90 Declaration)”.
1993	November, the 2nd International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS ‘93) is held in Baltimore, USA. Establishment of “International EMECS Center” is adopted in this conference.
1994	Articles of the Association for Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea are revised to include international activities pertaining to the environmental management of enclosed coastal seas. International Fund for Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas is established for this purpose. The preparatory committee for the establishment of international body dealing with the environmental management of enclosed coastal seas is formed. November, “International EMECS Center” is established. The 1st Meetings of Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and Scientific and Program Committee are held.
1997	August, the 3rd International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS ’97) is held as a joint conference with the 7th Stockholm Water Symposium in Stockholm, Sweden.
1999	November, the 4th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS ’99) is held as a joint conference with the 4th International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment in Antalya, Turkey.
2000	March, at the 14th Meeting of Board of Directors, the dissolution of International EMECS Center as a voluntary organization and the establishment of new juridical foundation are resolved. The application for juridical foundation is submitted to the Environment Agency. April, new juridical foundation “International EMECS Center” is granted approval of public corporation by the Prime Minister of Japan.
2001	May, the Center is granted approval of public corporation by the Ministry of Foreign Affair and the Ministry of the Environment. November, the 5th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS 2001) is held in Kobe/Awaji, Japan.
2003	November, the 6th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS 2003) is held in Bangkok, Thailand.
2006	May, the 7th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS 7) is held in Caen, France.
2008	October, the 8th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS 8) is held in Shanghai, China.
2011	August, the 9th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS 9) is held in Baltimore, USA.
2012	International EMECS Center is certified as Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.
2013	October – November, the 10th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS 10) is held as a joint conference with the 11th International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment in Marmaris, Turkey.
2016	August, the 11th International Conference on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS11) is held as a joint conference with the Sea Coast XXVI Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia.
2018	November, the 12th International Conference on the EnvironmentalManagement of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS12) is held in Pataya,Thailand.
2021	September, the 13th International Conference on the EnvironmentalManagement of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS13) is held online as a jointconference with ECSA.