Busan Fisheries Policy Forum to Host Event at Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center at 2 PM on the 23rd
Diagnosis and Challenges for Sustainable Fisheries Development Amid Climate Change Crisis to Be Discussed
At 2:00 p.m. on the 23rd, the 'Forum on Climate Change Response and Strategies for Fisheries Development' will be held at the Conference Hall of the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center.
The event is hosted by the Busan Fisheries Policy Forum and sponsored by Busan Metropolitan City.
Approximately 100 participants, including Sim Seongtae, Director General of the Bureau of Oceans, Agriculture, and Fisheries of Busan, Ryu Cheongro, CEO of the Busan Fisheries Policy Forum, as well as officials from fisheries-related organizations and groups, and fishermen, will be in attendance.
This forum, under the theme 'Climate Change Response and Exploring Sustainable Fisheries Development Strategies,' has been organized to discuss policies aimed at enhancing the diversity of marine and fisheries organisms and ensuring their sustainable use.
In order to overcome the ongoing climate crisis, the international community is busy implementing measures to both reduce carbon emissions and increase carbon absorption. For this reason, fisheries management is also expected to be further strengthened within the framework of marine ecosystem protection.
The forum will proceed with presentations by Choi Imho, Director of the Blue Carbon Strategy Office at the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, on 'Expanding Coastal Ecosystem Restoration (Creation of Sea Forests) in Busan and the Importance of Linking Blue Carbon (Marine Carbon Sinks),' and Kim Youngok, Head of the Department of Biotechnology at the National Institute of Fisheries Science, on 'Current Status and Prospects of Fisheries Bio R&D,' followed by a comprehensive discussion session.
In the comprehensive discussion, Son Jaehak, Professor at Pukyong National University (former Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries), will serve as moderator. Panelists will include Lim Taeho, Director of the Fisheries Resources Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; Park Sangwoo, Head of the Fishing Village Research Division at the Korea Maritime Institute; Kim Chunggon, Principal Researcher at the Climate Response Ecology Research Division of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology; Kim Youngmok, Professor of Food Engineering at National Pukyong University; Oh Seongtae, President of the Busan Fisheries Cooperative; Cheon Daewon, President of the Korea Autonomous Fisheries Management Association; and Lee Taehyun, President of the Busan Fishing Village Leaders Association. They are expected to engage in a lively discussion.
To reduce carbon emissions in the marine and fisheries sector, the city is implementing various measures to respond to climate change, such as improving energy efficiency and reducing the number of old fishing vessels, developing smart aquaculture technologies, and establishing necessary infrastructure. In particular, to enhance carbon absorption, the city is creating coastal sea forests to conserve and restore marine ecosystems undergoing rapid changes, thereby enabling the sustainable development of the fisheries industry.
On April 26, the city signed a practical agreement with Shinsegae to create a 'Marine Eco-Forest' along the Busan coast. Based on this agreement, the city is establishing a habitat for 'Zostera marina,' a marine protected species recognized as blue carbon by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), along the coast of Gijang. This initiative highlights the value of marine ecosystems as carbon sinks.
Ryu Cheongro, CEO of the Busan Fisheries Policy Forum, stated, "Through this forum, we expect to identify diagnoses and tasks for protecting and managing marine ecosystems, which play a significant role in addressing the climate crisis, and to lay the foundation for the sustainable growth of the fisheries industry."
Sim Seongtae, Director General of the Bureau of Oceans, Agriculture, and Fisheries, said, "The city will actively respond to the climate crisis by leveraging the potential of Busan's seas, and we will continue to seek and implement various policies for the preservation of marine ecosystems and the sustainable development of the fisheries industry."
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