Global Community in Busan to Define Sustainable Future for Life Under Water — Global Issues
BUSAN, Korea, Apr 28 (IPS) – “As the son of a haenyeo, a traditional Korean female diver, I grew up by the sea, often watching the ocean with my mother. Captivated by the beauty and majesty of the sea, I chose to study marine science and have devoted my entire career to the ocean,” said Do-hyung Kang, Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea.
World leaders, policymakers, stakeholders, scientists, indigenous advocates, youth leaders, and civil society from around the world have gathered at BEXCO in Busan, Republic of Korea, for the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) to define the next phase of ocean action and climate leadership.
“I want to discuss the footsteps that we have taken over the past 10 years during this conference and also find the pace for our footsteps for the next 10 years and our future direction for the OOC. As you know, our ocean is changing in a very fast-paced manner, which is why I believe that the future direction is important. And the speed of how we move is just as, if not even more, important,” he emphasized.
Speaking during a press briefing today, Do-hyung Kang said the 10th Our Ocean Conference, under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Action,” will serve as a platform to inspire global action for a sustainable ocean. He stressed that the biggest feature of the conference is its promotion of marine action through active participation and voluntary pledges by the private sector.
Over the past decade, Our Ocean Conference has generated at least 2,600 commitments and helped to establish marine protected areas (MPAs). Nearly half of globally implemented MPAs were first announced at OOC. The ongoing Busan conference will, for the first time since OOC’s inception, disclose an in-depth assessment of the commitments made since its first edition.
According to a WRI report, of the USD 160 billion pledged to date through OOC, more than USD 133 billion in funding has already been delivered or is in progress for efforts such as protecting marine biodiversity and fighting illegal fishing.
“A defining feature of the OOC is its active engagement of the private sector and the promotion of ocean action through voluntary commitments,” Do-hyung Kang said. “We have made every effort to showcase Korea’s strengths as a global leader in shipping, shipbuilding, and digital technology at this year’s OOC. A business summit focused on shipping, shipbuilding, and digital oceans will be held, along with a special exhibition highlighting these issues.”
Busan New Port, for instance, is a major container port in Busan, Korea, located at the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. It serves as a crucial link between the Pacific Ocean and the Eurasian continent, the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. As of 2019, it was the world’s sixth-largest container port.
During a tour of the Port, Lee Eung-hyuk, International Logistics Director, Busan Port Authority, stated that the port is a competitive shipping logistics center that is continuing to innovate and set the standard for ports worldwide. Through advanced technology development, Busan Port is transforming into a world-class smart port, and with its eco-friendly system, it is leading the future of cleaner, greener ports.
Busan Port is expanding Korea’s logistics territory by securing logistics bases in major overseas regions while ensuring harmony among people, the city, nature, and the port. At the same time, Korea has a substantial fishing industry.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, there are 198 Korean distant water fishing vessels and 29 Korean support vessels, and the number of foreign illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing vessels is 208. Major fishing areas are the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, and Southern Oceans.
Against this backdrop and towards sustainable oceans, the Republic of Korea has prevented, deterred, and effectively controlled illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by monitoring fishing activities and movements of about 200 Korean-flagged distant water fishing vessels in real time via the satellite-based Fisheries Monitoring Center (FMC).
IUU often involves destructive fishing methods, such as bottom trawling or the use of illegal nets. These practices harm habitats like coral reefs, seafloor ecosystems, and other marine organisms, causing long-lasting damage to the marine environment.
According to an official from the Shipping and Logistics Bureau, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, “Digital technologies are essential to addressing the pressing challenges facing our oceans. The task includes developing technologies such as autonomous ships and smart ports to enhance the efficiency of maritime transport, as well as building infrastructure for environmentally friendly marine fuels to achieve the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) goal of carbon neutrality in shipping by 2050.”
It is worth noting that the host country for this year’s Our Ocean Conference (OOC) has chosen “Ocean Digital” as a special agenda item, emphasizing the importance of digital solutions in addressing ocean issues.
Looking into the future Do-hyung Kang spoke about the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which will convene in Nice, France, in June 2025 and will be co-chaired by the governments of France and Costa Rica. The conference aims to generate transformative action and provide solutions the ocean needs, supported by ocean science and funding for SDG 14, which is about ‘Life below Water.’
Goal 14 focuses on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources, which cover three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97 percent of the Earth’s water, and represent 99 percent of the living space on the planet by volume.
Overall, the Minister was optimistic that the commitments discussed at the ongoing Busan conference will be further developed and carried forward to the Third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025, paving the way for more concrete discussions.
“In addition, we are working with Chile to establish the 4th UN Ocean Conference in 2028. Through the successful hosting of both the 10th OOC and the 4th UN Ocean Conference, we will strive to realize a sustainable ocean as a responsible and leading maritime nation. We look forward to even stronger international cooperation through global platforms,” he observed.
IPS UN Bureau Report
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2025) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service
