The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (Kim Woong-seo, President) announced the hosting of the “International Symposium on Marine Microplastics” at the Lavalse Hotel in Youngdo-gu, Busan for the two days September 19-20, 2019.

Hosted by the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia^*) and managed by KIOST, the international symposium will see some 50 experts from ten East Asian countries^**, including the Republic of Korea, as participants to seek solutions to the marine microplastics problem in Asia.
* PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia): An international organization for the protection, restoration, and management of habitats for marine life in East Asian waters, design of national marine strategies, and management of pollution and waste. Its membership currently includes 11 state members and partner organizations.
** State members: Republic of Korea, China, Japan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Timor-Leste

PEMSEA will share knowledge and information on marine microplastics in the Asian region, propose active solutions involving cooperation from countries and regions, and put forward practical scientific possibilities to resolve the marine microplastics problem in the future.

Kim Woong-seo, KIOST President, commented, “This symposium is adopting a scientific approach to the issue of marine microplastics and is expected to contribute to identifying their impact on marine life and developing measures to reduce their damage to the environment.”

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