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Busan Metropolitan City and BNK Busan Bank Conduct Underwater Marine Debris Collection Campaign Linked to the 10th Our Ocean Conference

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Mayor Park Heong-joon of Busan Metropolitan City announced that, in anticipation of the upcoming 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC), the city successfully carried out the Our Ocean Heroes’ Challenge campaign on April 26 to promote the event and practice marine environmental protection.

The 10th Our Ocean Conference will be held over three days from April 28 to 30 at BEXCO, co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

The campaign, sponsored by BNK Busan Bank, took place near Yongho Starlight Park in Nam-gu starting at 10:00 a.m. Professional divers from the Korea Maritime Rescue and Salvage Association Busan Branch participated by removing various types of submerged marine debris, including discarded fishing nets.

This campaign was conducted with the participation of the Busan Metropolitan City, the Korea Maritime Rescue and Salvage Association Busan Branch, and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation Busan Branch, with cooperation from the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, Nam-gu District Office, and Busan Coast Guard, showcasing public-private collaboration for marine ecosystem protection.

By removing abandoned fishing nets and other submerged waste from the ocean, the campaign is expected to contribute to eliminating factors harmful to marine ecosystems, such as ghost fishing, and to support the protection of fishery resources and promote the virtuous cycle of the marine ecosystem.

Through this hands-on activity aligned with the slogan of the 10th Our Ocean Conference, "Our Ocean, Our Action," the city effectively communicated its environmental protection commitment to the international community and further enhanced its status as a global maritime hub city.

Meanwhile, the Our Ocean Conference, initiated by the U.S. Department of State in 2014, is a high-level international conference held annually where global ocean leaders gather to discuss pressing marine issues and announce voluntary commitments for action.

Busan Metropolitan City, having previously submitted action pledges at the 8th and 9th Our Ocean Conferences, will continue its efforts by submitting five pledges at the 10th Conference — the first among local governments to do so.

Shim Seong-tae, Director-General of the Oceans, Agriculture, and Fisheries Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated,

"The ocean must always be protected safely and cleanly for future generations. Our city will continue working to establish a clean and sustainable marine environment."

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[Reference 1] Event Photos

(Photos not included in this file.)

[Reference 2] Overview of the 10th Our Ocean Conference

• ●About the Our Ocean Conference

• ○Launched in 2014 under the initiative of the U.S. Department of State.

• ○Past hosts include Chile (2nd), Malta (3rd, co-hosted by the EU), Indonesia (4th), Norway (5th), Palau (6th), Panama (7th), and Greece (9th).

• ○Over 2,600 voluntary commitments totaling approximately $20 billion have been announced across nine conferences to date.

• ●10th Our Ocean Conference Details

• ○Dates: April 28–30, 2025

• ○Venue: BEXCO, Busan, Korea

• ○Participants: About 2,300 representatives from over 100 countries, including governments, international organizations, and NGOs

• ○Theme: "Our Ocean, Our Action"

• ○Main Topics:

• ■Marine Protected Areas

• ■Sustainable Fisheries

• ■Marine Pollution

• ■Climate Change

• ■Blue Economy

• ■Maritime Security

• ○Focus Areas:

• ■Utilizing digital technologies to innovate smart port operations, disaster response, and fisheries resource management.