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First-ever Korean Executive Secretary of a Regional Fisheries Management Organization

  • Date

    2015.09.10.

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    16597

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First-ever Korean Executive Secretary of a Regional Fisheries Management Organization

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister: Yoo Ki-june) announced that Dr. Dae-Yeon Moon has been appointed as Executive Secretary of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) as of September 3, 2015. The decision was made with consensus at the 7th preparatory conference of the NPFC held in Japan on September 2, 2015. 

The Commission was newly launched this month for the conservation and management of high seas fisheries resources in the North Pacific Ocean. Fisheries resources covered by the Commission include pacific saury, squid, splendid alfonsin, North Pacific armorhead among others. The Commission is also tasked to ensure sustainable use of fisheries resources and protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems. As of now, the Commission consists of six members: Canada, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia and Chinese Taipei. Since 2011, Korea has served as a Depository.   

Dr. Moon is an expert with over twenty years of experience and career in the fisheries field. Thus far, he has attended more than 60 times of international and regional fisheries meetings, and it is noteworthy that he served as a chairman at the NPFC scientific working group and WCPFC Scientific Committee. In addition, he has published 40 scientific papers so far and it has made great contributions to the development of fishery science field. 

This feat was followed by the recent achievement that Mr. Lim Ki-tack was elected Secretary-General of International Maritime Organization (IMO) in June this year based on the coordinated efforts between Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). MOF and MOFA did not spare efforts to support Dr. Moon by having a series of consultations requesting support for him. As a result of the candidate’s outstanding qualifications and the two Ministries’ full support, Korea could produce the first-ever Korean Executive Secretary of a Regional Fisheries Management Organization. 

MOF official Shin Hee Cho (Director General for Overseas Fisheries and International Policy Bureau) said that “This appointment will serve as an important milestone in Korea’s distant water fisheries history. That’s because it is the first time that a Korean has been chosen to lead an international fisheries organization in the 60-year history of the country’s distant water fisheries industry.” She added that “Korea as a responsible member of fisheries community will support the newly-elected Executive Secretary by implementing advanced fisheries policies in close cooperation with other members and stakeholders.” 

There are 51 regional fisheries management organizations (RMFOs) worldwide and Korea is a contracting party to 18 RFMOs.
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