On August 17, the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST, President Hong Gi-hoon) announced that the completion ceremony for management facilities for marine protected areas in the Philippines, co-hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea Foundation, and KIOST, was held in Guimaras, the Philippines.

Some 100 participants attended the ceremony, including: the Korean delegation, consisting of Dr. Lee Youn-ho, a senior researcher at KIOST, and officials from the MOF and Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea Foundation; government officials from the Philippines, including Samuel Gumarin, governor of Guimaras; and professors from the University of the Philippines. Korea is responsible for carrying out the “Management Execution Project for Marine Protected Areas on the Coast of Guimaras in the Philippines.”

In a keynote speech, Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin expressed his joy about the fact that the construction of the management facilities will help preserve marine resources and promote the fisheries and tourism industries. He also expressed his gratitude to Korea, which provided support for the construction of the facilities.

Since 2015, in response to a request from the Philippine government for support in relation to the management system for marine protected areas in Guimaras, the MOF has been carrying out the “Management Execution Project for Marine Protected Areas on the Coast of Guimaras in the Philippines” as part of the Yeosu Project.* Currently, the ministry is actively cooperating to establish a local-resident-participation-style management system for marine protected areas and construct the required management facilities.

Under the Yeosu Project, six projects valued at a total of KRW 2.4 billion are currently under way. These projects are: the “Establishment of an Integrated Coastal Management System in Jakarta Bay,” “Development of Capability to Manage Marine Trash in Sri Lanka,” “Reduction of Coastal Disasters in Samoa,” “Survey and Analysis of Coastal Ecosystem and Water Quality in Vietnam,” and “Conservation of Marine Organism Diversity in Bangladesh.” In addition, the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea, an education and training project designed to foster manpower in developing countries and bolster the international network in this field, is being operated on a continuous basis.

* Yeosu Project: a program designed to support developing countries in accordance with the pledge Korea made at the closing of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea to provide support for developing countries in drawing up marine policies and resolving marine issues

Speaking about the institute’s activities in this regard, KIOST President Hong Gi-hoon said, “I am delighted that we have been able to provide support for marine protection management in the Philippines, and that Korea’s marine science technology will go on to help conserve the beautiful marine resources of the Philippines.” He went on to say, “I am committed to ensuring the future of our ocean industry and systematically managing our maritime territory.”

【Photo 1. Scene of completion ceremony for management facilities for marine protected areas in the Philippines

From left to right: Lee Chang-jae, senior manager of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea Foundation / ② Kim Byung-sup, secretary official of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
③ Lee Youn-ho, senior researcher  of KIOST / ④ Samuel Gumarin, governor of Guimaras, the Philippines ⑤ Ninfa Gajo, mayor of San Lorenzo, Guimaras】

【Photo 2. Monitoring center for marine protected areas constructed in Guimaras, the Philippines】