New Korean Ambassador Visits IMA
Chaguaramas – His Excellency Seijoong Kwon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Trinidad and Tobago, along with Dr. Seung-ok Ryu, Researcher in the Political and Economic Affairs Division of the Korean Embassy, paid a courtesy call to the Institute of Marine Affairs on November 8th, 2024. The Korean Ambassador, who presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on September 5th, 2024, has a particular interest and extensive experience in climate change and environmental sustainability matters, making his visit particularly significant.
The Korean Ambassador’s courtesy visit to the IMA underscores the substantial benefits that marine research is bringing to the nation. This visit and the subsequent collaborations it may lead to will play a crucial role in shaping the future of marine research and environmental sustainability in Trinidad and Tobago.
IMA Director Dr Ava Maxam expressed her enthusiasm about future collaborations with the Republic of Korea, highlighting the potential for significant advancements in marine research. She explained some of the Institute’s key initiatives and projects, underscoring the mutual benefits that such partnerships can bring. Trinidad and Tobago and the IMA have already seen the positive outcomes of collaborations with the Republic of Korea under the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Sandy Shoreline Project.
His Excellency and Dr. Ryu were also treated to a tour of the Institute’s research facilities and specialised laboratories. The tour began with a presentation by the Geomatics unit, where researchers detailed their work on oil spill monitoring, sargassum forecasting, and advanced mapping and monitoring of coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests. Mangroves, which store large amounts of carbon in their biomass, are essential to IMA’s efforts to develop a blue carbon credit scheme to offset Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Trinidad and Tobago.
The team visited the Oceanography and Coastal Processes Programme (OCP) next, where researchers highlighted IMA’s involvement in the ‘Sandy Shorelines Project,’ an initiative that has made significant strides in bolstering resilience in coastal communities facing increasing erosion and climate change impacts. With substantial support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), this project has successfully completed Phase 1, including an initial feasibility study to establish a regional monitoring network to enhance resilience for coastal communities, instilling confidence in the project’s progress. Proposals for Phase 11 of the project are being finalised, promising further achievements in the future.
Ambassador Kwon and Dr. Ryu were also introduced to the Environmental Quality Programme (EQP), which featured studies on hydrocarbons, trace metals, microbiology, and nutrients. This programme investigates microplastics, ocean acidification, eutrophication, and mercury analysis. The national benefit of bacterial recreational water quality monitoring efforts and the IMA’s oil fingerprinting analysis were discussed.
Finally, visiting the Fisheries Laboratory, scientists discussed using DNA barcoding to analyse lionfish gut contents under the Green Fund Project on the Lionfish invasive species. This method enhances understanding of lionfish dietary habits and ecological impacts. The study’s results will also inform strategies to control this invasive species, which threatens Caribbean marine ecosystems. To support lionfish management and help control its spread, IMA is actively promoting the consumption of the Lionfish through the current project, encouraging people to turn this invasive species into a sustainable food source, offering a hopeful solution to the problem.
This visit highlighted the importance of international collaboration in marine science. The IMA remains steadfast in exploring and pursuing potential partnerships with countries such as the Republic of Korea to further its mission towards sustainable management of the marine and coastal ecosystems for Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.
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For more information, contact the IMA at:
Krystal Chandler-Ganaselal
Information Officer/Public Relations
Institute of Marine Affairs
Tel: (868) 634-4291/4 Ext *2415 /2406
Fax: (868) 634-4433
E-mail : kchandler@ima.gov.tt