This study investigated species identification and labeling compliance of 48 shrimp products sold in the Korean online markets. Species identification was conducted using the standard DNA barcoding method, using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. The obtained sequences were compared with those deposited in the NCBI GenBank and BOLD Systems databases. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis was performed to further verify the identified shrimp species. Consequently, 16 shrimp species were identified, including Penaeus vannamei, Pandalus borealis, Palaemon gravieri, Leptochela gracilis, Penaeus monodon, Pleoticus muelleri, Metapenaeopsis dalei, Euphausia pacifica, Lebbeus groenlandicus, Trachypenaeus curvirostris, Argis lar, Metanephrops thomsoni, Metapenaeopsis barbata, Alpheus japonicus, Penaeus chinensis, and Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii. The most prevalent species was Penaeus vannamei, found in 45.8% of the analyzed products. A significant mislabeling rate of 72.9% was found; however, upon excluding generic names such as shrimp, the mislabeling rate reduced to 10.4%. The mislabeling rate was higher in highly-processed products (89.3%) compared with that in minimally-processed products (50%). No correlation was found between the country of origin and mislabeling rate. The results of this study provide crucial data for future monitoring of shrimp products and improving the labeling of shrimp species in Korea.

In this study, based on an analysis of two DNA barcode markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b genes), we performed species identification and monitored labeling compliance for 50 commercial pufferfish products sold in on-line markets in Korea. Using these barcode sequences as a query for species identification and phylogenetic analysis, we screened the GenBank database. A total of seven pufferfish species (Takifugu chinensis, T. pseudommus, T. xanthopterus, T. alboplumbeus, T. porphyreus, T. vermicularis, and Lagocephalus cheesemanii) were identified and we detected 35 products (70%) that were non-compliant with the corresponding label information. Moreover, the labels on 12 commercial products contained only the general common name (i.e., pufferfish), although not the scientific or Korean names for the 21 edible pufferfish species. Furthermore, the proportion of mislabeled highly processed products (n = 9, 81.8%) was higher than that of simply processed products (n = 26, 66.7%). With respect to the country of origin, the percentage of mislabeled Chinese products (n = 8, 80%) was higher than that of Korean products (n = 26, 66.7%). In addition, the market and dialect names of different pufferfish species were labeled only as Jolbok or Milbok, whereas two non-edible pufferfish species (T. vermicularis and T. pseudommus) were used in six commercial pufferfish products described as JolboK and Gumbok on their labels, which could be attributable to the complex classification system used for pufferfish. These monitoring results highlight the necessity to develop genetic methods that can be used to identify the 21 edible pufferfish species, as well as the need for regulatory monitoring of commercial pufferfish products.

Protein is an essential nutrient for humans to sustain life, but it is predicted that it will be challenging to secure protein through the traditional livestock industry in the future. Microalgae has high future value as an alternative protein food source due to resource utilization and sustainability advantages. In order to increase productivity, the culture conditions of microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris, Dunaliella salina, and Scenedesmus obliquus were examined in this study. The optimal culture conditions of C. vulgaris were mixotrophic culture, 25oC culture temperature, 7.0 initial pH, 10% initial inoculation, stirring culture, 3000 Lux light intensity, and 24L:0D light/dark cycle period with red LED. For D. salina, the optimal culture conditions were mixotrophic culture, 20oC culture temperature, 8.0 initial pH, 10% initial inoculation, stirring culture, 6000 Lux light intensity, and 12L:12D light/dark cycle period with white LED. For S. obliquus, the optimal culture conditions were mixotrophic culture, 30oC culture temperature, 8.0 initial pH, 10% initial inoculation, stirring culture, 4500 Lux light intensity, and 14L:10D light/dark cycle period with fluorescent light. These findings can be used as important information for increasing the production of microalgae as an alternative protein material resource in the future.

This study selected two labor-intensive processes in harsh environments among domestic food production processes. It analyzed their improvement effectiveness using 3-dimensional (3D) simulation. The selected processes were the “frozen storage source transfer and dismantling process” (Case 1) and the “heavily loaded box transfer process” (Case 2). The layout, process sequence, man-hours, and output of each process were measured during a visit to a real food manufacturing factory. Based on the data measured, the 3D simulation model was visually analyzed to evaluate the operational processes. The number of workers, work rate, and throughput were also used as comparison and verification indicators before and after the improvement. The throughput of Case 1 and Case 2 increased by 44.8% and 69.7%, respectively, compared to the previous one, while the utilization rate showed high values despite the decrease, confirming that the actual selected process alone is a high-fatigue and high-risk process for workers. As a result of this study, it was determined that 3D simulation can provide a visual comparison to assess whether the actual process improvement has been accurately designed and implemented. Additionally, it was confirmed that preliminary verification of the process improvement is achievable.

This study presents an analysis of bycatch data concerning Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) along the Korean coast from 2016 to 2021. A total of 503 bycatches were examined, encompassing data on year, month, body length, sex, latitude (N), longitude (E), and fishing gear. Bycatch was the most frequent in waters with a longitude of less than 130°E, particularly in the southern coastal region at a latitude of 35.5°N, with a higher likelihood of bycatch in lower latitudes. Since 2017, a decreasing trend in bycatches has been observed. The sex distribution of bycaught dolphins showed a predominance of males (40%), followed by females (31%), with an unclassified category at 29%, though no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05). Seasonal analysis indicated that bycatch predominantly occurred during the winter months, with significant monthly variations (p < 0.01). Pacific white-sided dolphins were primarily ensnared in gill nets and, to a lesser extent, in stationary nets. Statistical analysis by gear type revealed a significant preference for gill nets (p < 0.001). Considering body length composition in relation to latitude, it is suggested that Pacific white-sided dolphins may utilize the southern waters of the East Sea as a potential nursery ground, though this was not confirmed at a significant level, emphasizing the need for further in-depth monitoring and ecological investigations. Given that there are approximately 27 different types of gill nets associated with the majority of bycatches, more detailed research is warranted to divide these gear types into finer subcategories for estimating bycatch relationships, ultimately leading to the development of effective conservation and management strategies.

As discarded fishing gear settles or floats on the seabed, it destroys the spawning and habitat of fisheries resources that causes various safety accidents and adverse effects on the environment, such as generating microplastics and causing ship accidents. In order to solve this problem, this study is intended to present an implementation plan for establishing a fishing gear deposit system in order to use it as basic data for establishing policies for fishing gear management in Korea. In order to successfully implement the fishing gear deposit system, the deposit system must be established in the form of fishing gear completed at the production stage. It was found that the marking of the object should be easy, and that determining an appropriate deposit amount to motivate the return of waste fishing gear and establishing a convenient return procedure for returned waste fishing gear were important factors. In addition, transparent management of unreturned deposits and mandatory use of fishing gear subject to the deposit system for fishermen will be necessary. The role of a specialized organization to manage and operate all of these procedures is also very important. It is necessary to establish a new mandatory provision in the Fisheries Act to require fishermen who directly use fishing gear to use fishing gear with a deposit refund mark, and to ensure the implementation of the deposit system by linking it with the evaluation items of government policy projects. Since the main purpose of the deposit system is to collect discarded fishing gear, a support plan will be necessary in accordance with the purchase project for fishing waste salvaged by local governments in 2020.

The IUU Fishing Index is composed of 40 indicators. These indicators were grouped by state responsibilities (flag, coastal, port, and general including market) defined in the FAO IPOA-IUU (2001) and then by type into vulnerability, prevalence, and response. A total of 152 coastal nations was surveyed. Korea's total combined IUU Fishing Index was 2.49 in 2019 and 2.91 in 2021, indicating a drop in the ranking to the third worst out of 152 countries followed by China and Russia in 2021. The indicators that increased the IUU fishing risk in 2021 compared to 2019 included seven indicators of prevalence and two indicators of response while those reducing the risk included one prevalence and one response indicator. The IUU Fishing Index revealed that many fisheries observers and monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) practitioners active in the waters of RFMOs jurisdiction where Korean distant water vessels operate have mentioned concerns about the compliance with RFMO conservation measures or fishing practices. It suggested that strengthening management intervention in the fishing sector is needed. The primary tool for management is the MCS system. Given the logistical difficulty of oversight from land, air and at-sea, there is a need to enhance MCS strategies through logbook data, at-sea observer and electronic monitoring program. It also suggested that MSC fisheries certification and fisheries improvement projects, which are widely used for improving fishing sector performance, could contribute to the eradication of IUU fishing and the promotion of sustainable distant water fisheries.

The aging fishery training vessels from the past have mostly been decommissioned, and many universities are introducing state-of-the-art large fishery training vessels. The purpose of these training vessels is to train marine professionals and above all, safety to prevent marine accidents should be of utmost priority as many students embark on the vessel. This study estimated the impact of the hydrodynamic interaction forces acting on the model vessel (fishery training vessel) from the bank when the vessel pass near the semi-circle bank wall in various conditions through the numerical calculation, especially concerning maneuvering motions of the vessel. For estimation, variables were mainly set as the size of the semi-circle shape, the lateral distance between the bank and the model vessel, and the depth near the bank. As a result, it was estimated that, in order for the model vessel to safely pass the semi-circle bank wall at a speed of 4 knots, the water depth to the vessel draft ratio should be 1.5 or more (approximately 8 m of water depth), and the lateral distance from the semi-circle bank wall should be 0.4 times the model vessel’s length    or more (a distance of 34 m or more). Under these conditions, it was expected that the model vessel would pass without significantly being affected by the bank wall.

내년(2024년) 4차 서울대회를 준비하는 로잔 운동은 총체적 선교 에 초점을 맞추며 다양한 공공의 영역들에서 삼위일체 하나님의 선교를 실천하는 공공선교학과 공통점이 있다. 삼위일체 하나님은 그분의 백성들을 공공의 영역들로 보내시고 공적 참여를 통해 그분의 선교를 실천하신다. 로잔의 이슈 네트워크도 29개 네트워크들 중 일터, 비즈니 스, 미디어, 예술, 그리고 새로운 과학 기술 등과 같이 다양한 공공의 영역에 관한 공적 주제들을 다룬다. 본 글 에서 먼저 공공선교학의 시작과 흐름을 다루고 로잔 운동과 관련 있는 공공선교학자인 레슬리 뉴비긴, 르네 파딜라, 사무엘 에스코바르, 그리고 브라이언트 마이어스 등의 선교 신학을 소개한다. 그리고, 복음주의 공공선교학자인 그렉 오케슨의 공공선교학의 주요 특징들(1. 삼위일체 선교, 2. 복잡성, 3. 공공의 영역들, 그리고 4. 회중의 증인)과 로잔 운동의 공통점들을 언급한다. 특히, 공공선교가 실천되는 다양한 ‘공공의 영역들’은 선교의 현장으로서 하나님의 나라 신학이 구현되어야 할 공간이다. 그러므로 이 영역들을 소개하고 마지막으로 로잔 운동 50주년에 개최되는 4차 서울대회에서 선교의 보편성과 함께 특수성과 시대성을 고려하여 공공 선교학적 제안을 하고자 한다.

In the last five decades, there has been a consistent decline in the total catch of fisheries in the Korean jurisdiction since the peak in 1986. The decline in catch slowed and slightly rebounded in the 2000s, but changed back to a decline in the 2010s. As indicators that can identify changes in the marine ecosystem, trophic level (TL), biodiversity index (H'), and the ratio between pelagic fish and demersal fish (P/D) were analyzed by each local marine ecosystem. There were some different changes in each local marine ecosystem, but the mean TL and H' decreased and P/D increased in general in Korean waters. Demersal fish, which were dominant in the 1970s and 1980s, declined, and small pelagic fish and cephalopods have dominantly changed since the 1990s. However, these changes are not simple, and they are fluctuating in complex ways relating to each marine ecosystem and the timing. It is believed that changes in marine ecosystems in Korean waters are likely caused by a combination of fisheries and climate change. The ecosystem indicators reflected a change in the total catch, a sharp drop in catch of demersal fish, and increasing catch of pelagic fish since the mid-1980s.

The United States enforces the seafood import regulations so-called the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and by 2023, all exports of aquatic products and processed fish products by fisheries which have not obtained an “Comparability Finding” from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be completely banned. Therefore, to respond to the US MMPA, it is critical to identify technologies and methods used in worldwide for reducing bycatch of marine mammals. In particular, marine mammals are frequently caught in five fisheries (trawl, gill net, trap, stow net and set net) in Korea, which is facing a great challenge. This study presented bycatch reduction methods by five fisheries, classified the methods by country, and suggested appropriate reduction methods which can be applied in Korea.