Minister Kang’s Statement on the 5th APEC Ocean-Related Ministerial Meeting

On Tuesday in Busan, Kang Do-Hyung, Korea’s Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, shared with his ocean and fisheries counterparts a statement that reflects the outcomes of the 5th APEC Ocean-Related Ministerial Meeting, which he chaired on 1 May 2025.

Under the theme "Navigating our Blue Future – Connection, Innovation, and Prosperity," the meeting underscored the urgent need for stronger cooperation to tackle environmental challenges, promote sustainable ocean practices and promote economic empowerment and participation of all stakeholders in the region.

The statement highlighted the critical role of regional collaboration in addressing marine pollution, disaster preparedness and the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture.

Ministers also emphasized the need for the development of the APEC Ocean Resilience Enhancement Roadmap, a framework aimed at enhancing disaster risk management and strengthening regional resilience.

Ministers recognized the growing threat of marine pollution, urging the timely implementation of the APEC Roadmap on Marine Debris and calling for innovative technological solutions to reduce pollution and safeguard marine biodiversity.

In the area of fisheries management, ministers reiterated the importance of science-based approaches to ensure the sustainability of ocean resources, food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

They called for increased efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and for the enhancement of capacity-building initiatives to support robust monitoring and enforcement across the region.

APEC ministers also committed to fostering collaboration on sustainable aquaculture development and small-scale fisheries, stressing the need for public-private partnerships and knowledge exchange to drive economic growth while preserving marine ecosystems.

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