83 New Species of Marine Life Discovered in the Oceans of Korea

- A feat achieved by 27 marine and fisheries biodiversity registries in 2023, strengthening Korea’s marine biodiversity sovereignty

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Kang Do-Hyung) has secured a total of 83 new marine species in Korean waters, including 34 novel species discovered for the first time in the world and 49 unrecorded species discovered for the first time in Korean waters, through the 2023 Marine and Fisheries Life Resources Depository and Registration Center Project. In addition, 129 previously known species that were not held by the registry centers were also acquired.

 With the recent growth of the marine bio market, the management and utilization of marine biological resources has become increasingly important. Therefore, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has designated 27 depository repositories, including university and public research institutes, to systematically manage marine and fisheries life resources.

 The newly discovered novel and unrecorded species are published in domestic and international academic journals to solidify Korea’s marine life sovereignty, while the secured resources are registered in the Marine Bio-Resource Information System and made available to the public.

 Meanwhile, MOF has been conducting joint discovery surveys with depository registries and conservation organizations since 2017 in waters of high marine biodiversity but with limited access* to increase the rate of securing marine life resources. In 2023, the joint discovery survey conducted in the waters of Ulleungdo Island resulted in the acquisition of 328 species, including three novel species under the phylum nematoda, Tricoma ulleungensis, Tricoma longicauda, Tricoma breviseta, and seven unlisted species, including chain sea squirt (Botrylloides diegensis) and Stenocaris intermedia.

 This year, in celebration of National Oceans Day, more than 70 taxonomists from 20 depository repositories will participate in a joint discovery survey in the waters of Udo Island, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province (May 27th – 30th) to secure more diverse marine life resources.