Finding Ways to Collaborate with African Nations on Marine and Fisheries to Ensure a Better Future

 

Hosting the 2024 International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries as a side event of the Korea-Africa Summit

 

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Kang Do-Hyung) will host the 2024 International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries* on June 5th (Wednesday) at 3:30 PM at the Ambassador Seoul – A Pullman Hotel.

 

 * An event to explore actions to strengthen cooperation in marine and fisheries initiatives with coastal island states across Africa and Asia (since 2014)

 

 Celebrating its 11th year in 2024, the International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries serves to bring together coastal island states from around the world to discuss international marine and fisheries issues and explore ways to strengthen cooperation. This year, the conference will be held jointly with African nations during the Korea-Africa Summit. The conference will be attended by marine and fisheries ministry officials and FAO of 12 major coastal African countries*, including President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development of Ghana, and Minister Jean-Francois Ferrari of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Seychelles. Minister Kang Do-Hyung of Oceans and Fisheries will attend the conference to represent the Korean government with a delegation from the marine, fisheries, and offshore sector, including representatives of Dongwon Industries.

 

 * Ghana, Kenya, Seychelles, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, and Malawi

 

 The conference, to be held under the theme “Maritime and Fisheries Cooperation for a Better Future,” will emphasize the importance of joint global collaboration in areas including responses to the climate crisis and marine conservation. In particular, the conference will discuss ways to expand cooperation for shared growth and sustainable development in the field of marine and fisheries between Korea and African nations. To this end, the panel discussion, which will be the core of the program, will invite Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development of Ghana, Advisor and Ambassador Nancy Karigithu for Blue Economy under the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, and Advisor Sebastiao Pereira to the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy – Republic of Guinea-Bissau to discuss marine and fisheries cooperation initiatives with Korea.

 

 During the talks, Ghana will share its plans as a fisheries-oriented country in West Africa to expand cooperation in the areas of fisheries development, including seafarer training for fishing vessels and capacity-building to combat piracy and eradicate illegal fishing. In addition, Kenya, which has shown strong interest in expanding the international reach of its seafarers and sea crew, will discuss plans to cooperate in areas of developing and expanding seafarer training programs. Guinea-Bissau, a country mainly focused on small-scale fishing operations, will explore sea-based blue economy initiatives, including the construction of small-scale fishing ports and cold-storage warehouses that can be utilized by local fishermen.

 

 On the sidelines of the conference, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with two of Africa’s major coastal states—Kenya and Seychelles—on the same day to strengthen international cooperation. With Kenya, the Ministry plans to enhance cooperation in fisheries and fishing village sectors while addressing the shortage of domestic seafarers by calling for cooperation in the maritime sector. Cooperation with Seychelles is expected to be further strengthened in the areas of building stable sources of fisheries resources in the Indian Ocean and in combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.

 

 MOF Minister Kang Do-Hyung said, “It is crucial to pool together the insights of the maritime and fisheries stakeholders across the globe to ensure sustainable development of the oceans and to translate these discussions into tangible actions.” He added, “To this end, Korea will continue to strengthen cooperation with the coastal states of Africa and countries around the world.”