Development of risk managing technology tackling ocean and fisheries crisis around Korean Peninsula by Kuroshio Current

To identify and understand the processes of oceanographic changes around the Korean Peninsula caused by the Kuroshio Current—an influential factor in Korean waters with increasing variability in recent years—and to strengthen the fundamental capacity to respond to potential marine crises. 

Final Research Objectives of This Study:

1. Establishment of an integrated database of oceanographic observations related to the Kuroshio Current and surrounding waters of the Korean Peninsula

2. Development of 11 marine and fisheries crisis prediction scenarios at the level of metropolitan municipalities

3. Formation of at least two international collaborative research networks involving three or more Pacific Rim countries

4. Identification and clarification of the causes behind the Kuroshio Current’s influence on the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula

5. Securing official recognition of this research project as an Ocean Decade Action under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNDOS)

Development of Management and Assessment Technologies for Hull-Fouling Organisms

Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity, the term “alien species” refers to organisms that originate from foreign countries and exist outside of their original habitat or native range due to either artificial or natural introduction. This includes not only species introduced from other countries but also species that, although once native or non-invasive, have established populations and ecological competitiveness beyond their natural historical range or ecosystem. In the marine environment, hull-fouling organisms have been investigated as one of the key pathways for the introduction of invasive aquatic species.

The following items were studied in this research:

1. Community structure analysis of hull-fouling bacteria

2.  Microbial community analysis using hull-simulated settlement panels

3.  Isolation of fouling bacteria and assessment of potential ecological risks

2025 Coastal Ecosystem Survey (National Marine Ecosystem Comprehensive Survey)

To secure systematic and scientific data on the current status and both short- and long-term changes in Korea’s coastal ecosystems, and to utilize this information in the development and implementation of marine ecosystem conservation and management policies. The data will support preemptive responses to climate change, the management of marine ecological assets, the protection of outstanding marine ecosystems, and the sustainable and wise use of marine resources. It will also serve as a basis for formulating and implementing comprehensive and systematic marine ecosystem conservation policies, as well as for effective marine spatial planning.

1. Baseline survey of coastal ecosystems in the West Sea and the southwestern coast of the South Sea

2.  Survey of ecologically important marine areas

3.  Annual report and marine ecosystem monograph

Study on the distribution and bloom characteristics of subtropical toxic microalgae, including Ciguatera-causing species.

Survey on the Distribution of Ciguatera-Causing Organisms in Korea(Identification and abundance of ichthyotoxic organisms) 

1. Investigation of species composition and abundance of fish poisoning (ichthyotoxic) organisms in coastal waters of Geoje, Busan, and Jeju.

2. Analysis of temporal (summer and autumn) and spatial variations in the distribution patterns of toxic species

Survey on the Distribution of Harmful Red Tide Resting Spores in South Sea Sediments(Study on the characteristics of harmful resting spores under physiological changes)

1. Establishment of mitigation strategies and on-site application protocols to address potential contamination in metabarcoding data caused by extracellular DNA residues binding ionically to silicate minerals in sediments.

2 Seasonal assessment of microalgal resting spore composition in coastal waters around Korea (including major harmful algal bloom (HAB) hotspots) using next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based metabarcoding techniques.

3.Isolation of individual resting spores from candidate HAB species under a microscope, followed by analysis of germination behavior and physiological traits.

4.Comparative assessment of microalgal community structures originating from resting spores in South Sea sediments under different environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) using artificial ecosystem experiments, with a focus on understanding how HAB-forming species may respond to climate change.

Development of marine biotics through analysis and application of marine organism microbiomes

By integrating microbiome research—emerging as a key driver of next-generation bioindustries—with marine biology, this project aims to expand the foundation of marine microbiome research, enhance international competitiveness, and develop technologies for utilizing marine microbiome-based biological resources.

The study will include:

1. Understanding host–microbiome and microbe–microbe interactions through comprehensive analysis of microbiomes across diverse marine organisms.

2. Establishing a research and development platform encompassing data, biological resources, and evaluation systems.

3. Developing marine biotics to promote growth, improve health, and enhance functionality in marine organisms based on marine microbiome insights.