The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST, President Hong Gi-hoon) recently announced that the 4th Steering Committee Meeting was held in cooperation with KOPE-LAR (Laboratorio de Investigacion Corea-Peru en Ciencia y Tecnologia Marina para America Latina), an ocean science and technology research center operated jointly by Korea and Peru, in the office of the Peruvian Ministry of Production in Lima, Peru, on April 27, 2017.

The meeting was attended by a delegation from Korea, the members of which included Director Dongchull Jeon of KIOST and Deputy Director Jae-gwan Jung of the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and representatives of the Peruvian government, including Alfredo Garcia, Secretary to the Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Peruvian Ministry of Production, and researchers from IMARPE (Instituto del Mar del Peru).

At the Steering Committee Meeting, participants discussed the changes in and outlook for marine resources in relation to climate change, including the El Nino effect, and talked about the joint research on marine climate and fisheries technologies being carried out by Korea and Peru, including the transfer of Korean flatfish cultivation technology and water circulation and filtration techniques. Central and South American countries, including Peru, are major importers of marine products from Korea, but have recently been experiencing difficulties in exporting their own marine products due to torrential rains, landslides, and changes in their marine resources influenced by climate change (the El Nino effect and others).

President Hong remarked, “This meeting will provide an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on the achievements of past joint research carried out by our two countries and seek a better way forward.” He went on to add, “We hope that our research proposals will be successful and contribute to the mutual interests of both Korea and Peru.”