Deliberation by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Development Committee, such as the Designation of Gwantaldo Island and Sindo-ri in Jeju as a Marine Protected Area

 

Deliberation and decision on four agenda items including the 2025 Implementation Plan for Ocean and Fisheries Science and Technology Development (draft) and Designation of Gwantaldo Island and Sindo-ri in Jeju as a Marine Protected Area (draft) during the 1st Maritime Fisheries Development Committee meeting in 2025

 

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced that the 1st Marine and Fisheries Development Committee meeting (written deliberation) in 2025 was held, with the following decided: △2025 Implementation Plan for Marine and Fisheries Science and Technology Development (draft); △Designation of Gwantaldo Island in Jeju as a Marine Protected Area (draft); △Designation of Sindo-ri in Jeju as a Marine Protected Area (draft); and △ Designation of New Lighthouse Heritage (draft).

 

 《2025 Implementation Plan for Marine and Fisheries Science and Technology Development (draft)》

 

 These third-year implementation measures of the 2nd Master Plan for the Development of Marine and Fisheries Science and Technology (2023-2027) contain tasks related to technology development and utilization in the master plan.

 

 This year, MOF plans to focus on projects for digital transformation and eco-friendly technology innovation in the ocean and fisheries sector as well as policy and institutional support for disseminating R&D results. It mandates submitting and evaluating commercialization strategies for related R&D projects to improve performance and establish a cooperative research system among industry, academe, and research institutes. Moreover, MOF plans to reorganize contract-related regulations and expand collaboration with the Korea Intellectual Property Office throughout the entire R&D process, including setting investment directions, planning projects, conducting research, and disseminating results to expand the public procurement of new marine and fisheries technology products and facilities.

 

 《Designation of Gwantaldo Island and Sindo-ri in Jeju as Marine Protected Areas (draft)》

 

 The Committee plans to designate the waters around Gwantaldo Island and Sindo-ri in Jeju-do as a new Marine Protected Area. The Gwantaldo Island Marine Protected Area (1,075.08 km2) in Chuja-myeon, Jeju is a habitat for marine protected species such as seaweed (Zostera caulescens Miki) and corals (Myriopathes japonica, Antipathes lata, Euplexaura crassa, and Dendronephthya mollis) and is a sea area with rich biodiversity. In particular, unlike existing marine protected areas that have been designated on a small scale centered on the coast, the Gwantaldo Island Marine Protected Area is significant since it is the first large-scale marine protected area measuring over 1,000 km2 pursuant to the Conservation and Management of Marine Ecosystems Act.

 

 The Sindo-ri Marine Protected Area (2.36 km2) in Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si is the main habitat for the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, a marine protected species. Living mainly in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) lives only off the coast of Jeju-do in Korea, and its population is known to be less than 120. This is the first time that the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin habitat has been designated as a protected area, and it is expected to become the third marine life protected area* in Korea.

 

 * Garorim Bay Protected Area (Spotted Seals (Phoca largha); designated in July 2016) and Goseong Hai-myeon Protected Area (Finless Porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis); designated in December 2019)

 

 A management plan will be prepared for these newly designated protected areas to manage the marine ecosystem sustainably, and then protected area management projects such as resident support will be implemented. MOF plans to finalize and announce the designation after completing related procedures.

 

 《Designation of New Lighthouse Heritage (draft)》

 

 As part of its efforts to preserve and manage lighthouses with historical, social, and cultural values systematically, the Committee plans to designate the old lighthouse tower of Songdaemal Lighthouse in Gyeongju-si, Dokdo Lighthouse in Ulleung-gun, and Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Island Lighthouse in Taean-gun as new lighthouse heritage sites. In particular, Songdaemal Lighthouse's old lighthouse tower is the only domestic lighthouse constructed more than 50 years ago but has not been designated as a lighthouse heritage site. It was built in the Palladian style—which emphasizes symmetry, proportion, and balance—was inspired by ancient Roman and Greek architecture, and is regarded as a lighthouse with high heritage value. Dokdo Lighthouse and Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Lighthouse are located on the easternmost island in the East Sea and the westernmost island in the West Sea, respectively, and are recognized for their historical and symbolic significance.

 

 "We will implement the new designation of marine protected areas and improvement of the R&D system discussed at the Marine and Fisheries Development Committee meeting without a hitch and continue to work closely with the relevant ministries to implement key policies quickly," Minister Kang Do-hyung said.