Chonnam National University Hosts Grand Forum on 'Offshore Wind Power and Marine Spatial Utilization'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] The Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Institute at Chonnam National University (Director Choi Sang-deok) announced on the 5th that it will hold a forum on the 8th at the Joint Lecture Room of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the Yeosu Campus, with the theme "Offshore Wind Power and Marine Spatial Planning," attended by general citizens and related organizations and groups.

This major forum was organized to explore coexistence measures with the fisheries industry according to the utilization plan of offshore wind power, which is gaining attention as a renewable energy source, and marine spatial planning, and to broaden consensus on efficient use of marine space through resident participation business models.

At the forum, presentations and discussions will follow on topics such as ▲Current status and development plans of marine spatial planning in Jeonnam (Dr. Cho Sang-pil, Gwangju Jeonnam Institute) ▲Overseas offshore wind power and coexistence measures with fisheries (Director Wi Jin-hwi, RICOF Research Institute) ▲Current status, procedures, and enhancement of resident acceptance of domestic offshore wind power (Director Moon Jeong-gap, Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion).

Currently, the world relies on fossil fuels for more than 80% of its energy supply, causing enormous carbon emissions that lead to the climate crisis. Moreover, since the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in 2011, attention has been focused on clean and safe renewable energy.

In particular, in South Korea, offshore wind power is rapidly emerging as a core of the Korean Green New Deal, and the construction of offshore wind farms is being promoted simultaneously along coastal waters nationwide. However, there has been insufficient review of the impact on the marine environment and ecosystem, leading to growing opposition from fishermen and stakeholders, escalating into social conflicts.

Director Choi Sang-deok said, "In Ulsan, a floating offshore wind power plant project is underway, and large-scale offshore wind farms are planned off Sinan, Jeonnam, leading to a flood of opinions for and against offshore wind power," adding, "We organized this major forum to publicize these issues, share each other's opinions and wisdom, and expand interest in the utilization of marine space."