Holding of the 3rd International Forum on Biofouling… Discussing the International Agreement on the Management of Biofouling

-Five days starting Monday, November 4, with 300 experts from 56 countries worldwide

 Together with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced that it would hold the “3rd International Forum on Biofouling Management Technology Development” for five days from Monday, November 4 to Friday, November 8 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Busan.

 Biofouling involves barnacles, among others, attaching themselves to the surface of the hull and invading other sea areas, disrupting the native marine ecosystem. Moreover, it contributes to global warming by reducing the speed of ships, which in turn increases fuel consumption and carbon emissions; thus requiring international management.

 This is the third forum following those held in Australia in 2019 and London in 2022. Under the theme of “The Future of Marine Biofouling Management Systems,” approximately 300 people from 56 countries around the world, including officials from the International Maritime Organization, key project partnering countries, civil servants from developing countries, and marine environment experts, will gather. They will lay the foundation for an international agreement on the management of marine Biofouling and discuss international standards and policy development, as well as the current status and prospects of related industrial technologies.

 Moreover, during the forum, an exhibition showcasing the biofouling treatment technology of major countries—including Korean companies—will be held, and the attendees will tour cutting-edge industrial sites such as Korean shipyards, research institutes, and underwater cleaning robot manufacturers.

 “Despite the fact that biofouling has posed a threat to biodiversity, there has been no international management or regulation. I hope that this third forum will be an opportunity for international organizations and experts worldwide to discuss the formation of an international agreement and establishment of an implementation plan,” Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung said.