PEMSEA Welcomes MABIK as New Non-Country Partner

The National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK) joins PEMSEA as its 22nd Non-Country Partner. With the approval from the PEMSEA Executive Committee and the EAS Partnership Council, a signing ceremony took place during the 9th East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council from July 24-26, 2017, where PEMSEA Executive Director, Mr. Stephen Adrian Ross and MABIK President, Dr. Sangjin Kim signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the partnership and MABIK’s inclusion into the Council.

 

 

Dr. Sangjin Kim expressed his sincere appreciation to PEMSEA and the Partnership Council. MABIK is a legal entity established by the government of RO Korea for the purpose of research, education and exhibition in the field of marine bio-resources. MABIK’s expertise and programs include: (a) conservation plan for managed marine organism; (b) monitoring of biodiversity dynamics on diverse coastal habitats; and (c) establishment of infrastructure for sustainable use of marine resources.  The partnership is expected to provide significant expertise and value to PEMSEA Partners, particularly the PEMSEA countries.

 

While MABIK’s work is focused in RO Korea, the institution has also undertaken a number of bilateral activities or initiatives in some East Asian Seas countries, as well as with PEMSEA. Prior to becoming a PEMSEA Non-Country Partner, PEMSEA and MABIK entered into a Letter of Agreement regarding the Development of Project Proposals for Collaboration on Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Management in the East Asian Seas (EAS) Region. Last February 2017, PEMSEA recommended three projects to be considered by MABIK. MABIK expressed their interest in the three proposals at ICM sites in Timor Leste, Philippines and the Cambodia-Vietnam border and is currently seeking external sources of funding for the project proposals.