Issued by the 5th APEC Ocean-Related
Ministerial Meeting
Busan, Republic of Korea, 1
May 2025
Ministers from APEC economies gathered in
Busan, Republic of Korea, today for the 5th APEC
Ocean-Related Ministerial Meeting, reaffirming their
collective commitment to addressing the critical challenges
facing the ocean and marine resources in the Asia-Pacific
region. The meeting marks the resumption of high-level ocean
dialogue within APEC after a decade-long gap.
In his
opening remarks, Korea’s Minister of Oceans and Fisheries,
Kang Do-Hyung, emphasized the importance of the ocean as an
essential resource for all APEC economies and its critical
role in the economic development of the region.
“The
ocean serves as a foundation of life that embraces us all,
and it stands as a key resource for our shared future,”
said Minister Kang. “Over the millennia, it has
underpinned the delicate balance between economic
development and environmental
sustainability.”
However, Minister Kang added that
the ocean is currently facing a range of serious
challenges.
“The rising sea temperatures and sea
levels, the depletion of fishery resources, and the growing
issue of marine debris are threatening not only marine
ecosystems but also the sustainability of fisheries,
aquaculture, and marine tourism—resulting in significant
economic and social costs,” Minister Kang added.
But
Minister Kang also shared encouraging facts that even in the
face of these crises, the international community continues
to make tireless efforts to protect the ocean and ensure a
sustainable future.
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“The recently
adopted BBNJ Agreement has become a historic milestone in
preserving marine ecosystems in areas outside the
jurisdiction of any economy,” Minister Kang stated,
referring to the 2023 agreement under the United Nations
Convention of the Law of the Sea. “The international
community has set a clear goal of securing ratification by
at least 60 economies by June this year and is working
together toward that target.”
Minister
Kang also highlighted other international efforts, such as
the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which is
recognized for laying the foundation for a more sustainable
fisheries sector by limiting harmful subsidies that
contribute to overfishing and IUU fishing.
“APEC,
through the Ocean and Fisheries Working Group, has steadily
strengthened regional efforts to address a wide range of
ocean issues, including combating IUU fishing and reducing
marine debris to promote sustainable development in the
ocean and fisheries sectors,” Minister Kang
added.
APEC has developed strategic roadmaps to
address critical ocean issues, including marine debris,
illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well
as small-scale fisheries and aquaculture.
The APEC
Roadmap on Marine Debris, endorsed in 2019, emphasizes
voluntary and cooperative actions among member economies to
reduce marine debris, particularly plastic litter, through
policy development, capacity building and sustainable waste
management practices.
Similarly, the
APEC Roadmap on Combatting IUU Fishing outlines
collaborative strategies to prevent and eliminate IUU
fishing activities. This includes the development and
implementation of economy-wide plans of actions, capacity
building and the adoption of port state measures to
strengthen enforcement and compliance across the region.
In 2022, APEC also adopted the Roadmap
on Small-Scale Fisheries and Aquaculture, aimed at
promoting the sustainable development of small-scale
fisheries and aquaculture sectors. This roadmap focuses on
enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and
aquaculture producers through improved market access,
capacity-building, and the promotion of responsible and
sustainable practices.
These roadmaps serve as
frameworks for APEC economies to align their efforts and
implement effective measures to protect marine ecosystems
and ensure the sustainable use of ocean
resources.
“These multifaceted efforts highlight the
complexity and severity of the challenges we face. At the
same time, they offer hope that even the most difficult
ocean-related issues can be addressed through cooperation
and innovation,” he continued.
“In this moment
where crisis and hope coexist, we have gathered here today
to respond collectively to the challenges facing our oceans
and to chart a course toward a sustainable future. I
sincerely hope that today’s discussions will not remain as
mere documents or declarations but will be translated into
concrete actions and policies by all APEC member
economies,” Minister Kang
concluded.
