WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2024 13 CHAPTER REPORTS commemorate 60 years of Korean shrimp farming, on February 15, 2024. The Association announced that it erected a monument in commemoration of the start of prawn aquaculture in Korea in 1963 at Sinheung Fisheries, located in Sohwang-ri, Ungcheon-myeon, Chungcheongnam-do, by selecting a location that is closest to the birthplace of shrimp farming and frequently visited by tourists. More than 20 people attended the event, including executives of the Korea Shrimp Farming Association, Boryeong City Congressman Baek Sung-hyun and Cho Jang-hyun, Chungnam Provincial Fisheries Resources Research Institute Director Jang Min-gyu, and Muchangpo Tourism Association Chairman Kim Ji-ho. Lee Ki-bong, Chairman of the Korean Shrimp Farming Association, said in his greeting, “I hope that the monument will serve as an opportunity to publicize the birthplace of Korean shrimp farming and promote the importance of shrimp farming to many people.” Kim Young-soo, head of the Boryeong City Fisheries Department, said, “I think it is meaningful to erect a monument in the place where shrimp farming began in our country,” and added, “I hope that shrimp consumption will become more active in the future and help increase the income of shrimp farming companies.” The monument to 60 years of shrimp farming is the third aquaculture monument in Korea, following the oyster farming tasting site and the foundation stone of trout farming. Presenting a Blueprint for the High Value-Added Future Aquaculture Industry On December 28, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF, Minister Cho Seung-Hwan) established and announced the “Basic Plan for Aquaculture Industry Development (2024~2028)” to strengthen the competitiveness of the aquaculture industry and ensure sustainable development. Aquaculture is considered a core industry that can provide a stable supply in response to the depletion of marine resources and the increasing demand for high-protein marine products. Domestically, the proportion of farmed marine products supplied reaches 63%, and globally, the production value of the aquaculture industry is approximately KRW 300 billion. Accordingly, to increase the competitiveness of the aquaculture industry so that it can leap forward as a high-value-added future industry and to establish a stable fishery product supply system, the MOF has established a mid- to long-term policy direction for five years from 2024 to 2028 through the Aquaculture Industry Development Act. This plan is meaningful because it is the first mid- to long-term policy direction established since the Aquaculture Industry Development Act was separated from the Fisheries Act as an independent law in 2019. This basic plan aims to transform the aquaculture industry into a smart and automated one, expand its production, and provide safe marine products that the public can rest assured of. It consists of four promotion strategies, creation of high added value through production, processing, and exports, creation of a foundation for a sustainable aquaculture industry, and 16 detailed implementation tasks. New MOF Minister Kang Do-hyung President Yoon Suk-yeol made a significant decision on Dec. 29, 2023, appointing Kang Do-hyung, the director of the prestigious Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), as the new Minister of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). The official letters of appointment were presented at the esteemed Presidential Office Building in Yongsan, Seoul, on Jan. 3, 2024. Minister Kang, a native of Seogwipo, Jeju Island, was born in 1970. He has an impressive academic and professional background, having served as the 11th director of KIOST and a professor at the University of Science and Technology (UST) since 2009. His research areas, marine biology and microalgae, have led to significant technological advancements and have been instrumental in the growth of related industries. Minister Kang’s dedication to his field is evident in his various roles and responsibilities. He has served as the general affairs director of the Korean Society of Biotechnology, a member of the Jeju Island Regional Innovation Council, and an advisor to the Busan Port Development Council. These positions have allowed him to contribute significantly to advancing his field and the development of his country. — Ik Kyo Chung, President World Aquaculture Society Student Association The World Aquaculture Society Student Association is composed of students and senior WAS members dedicated to providing students with beneficial opportunities during conferences and throughout the year. During WAS chapter and annual meetings, the Student Activities Committee organizes special workshops and seminars, provides complimentary roommate services, hosts student socials, and provides helpful information for all students. Since its beginning, the membership in WAS has grown to more than 3,000 members in about 100 countries representing the global aquaculture community. Learn more here.
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