The city of Busan, led by Mayor Park Hyungjoon, has launched practical activities to protect the marine environment ahead of the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC).
On April 26, the city announced the successful completion of the 'Our Ocean Heroes' Challenge campaign in the waters near Yongho Byeolbit Park in Nam-gu. Sponsored by BNK Busan Bank, the campaign involved professional divers from the Busan branch of the Korea Maritime Rescue Association, who collected approximately 30 tons of submerged marine debris such as abandoned fishing nets and tires from the sea.
The event was a collaborative effort involving the city of Busan, the Busan branch of the Korea Maritime Rescue Association, and the Busan branch of the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation. Relevant agencies, including the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, Nam-gu District Office, and Busan Coast Guard, also cooperated, allowing the public and private sectors to join forces in protecting the marine ecosystem.
The city expects that this initiative will help remove submerged debris that negatively impacts the marine ecosystem, such as ghost fishing gear, and contribute to the protection of fisheries resources and the establishment of a virtuous cycle for the marine environment.
From April 28 to April 30, Busan will co-host the 10th Our Ocean Conference at BEXCO together with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. In line with the conference slogan, 'Our Ocean, Our Action,' the city plans to continue taking concrete actions to address key issues such as reducing marine pollution and promoting sustainable fisheries.
The Our Ocean Conference is a high-level international marine conference that began in 2014 under the initiative of the U.S. Department of State. It serves as a platform for global ocean leaders to announce voluntary commitments and discuss cooperation. Busan is enhancing its international presence by being the first local government to submit practical commitments for three consecutive conferences. Major commitments include research on marine fine dust using ultra-small satellites, the establishment of a marine debris reduction and management system, the creation of marine forest ecological parks, the development of an intelligent marine environment management platform, and the construction of eco-friendly marine environment cleanup vessels.
Shim Sungtae, Director-General of Maritime, Agriculture, and Fisheries at Busan City, stated, "The ocean is a precious asset that must always be kept safe and clean for future generations," adding, "We will continue to devote our efforts to creating a sustainable marine environment."
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