Vice Minister Nam Jae-heon of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on the 22nd that the ministry will complete the pilot operation of the Arctic route in the second half without a hitch and move quickly to integrate AI (artificial intelligence) into the oceans and fisheries sector while managing seafood supply and prices.
At an inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) in Dong-gu, Busan, that day, the Vice Minister said, "We will identify key tasks and push them forward so that every part of the oceans and fisheries sector can take a step up."
The Vice Minister said, "Based on the achievements of the past year, it is time for the oceans and fisheries sector to leap farther and transition faster," adding that three projects will be pursued as priorities.
First, he said, "With the era of the Arctic route approaching, we will foster Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang as a maritime metropolitan area to create a success model for region-led growth," adding, "We will complete the pilot operation of the Arctic route scheduled for the second half of this year without a hitch."
The Vice Minister also said, "We will do our utmost to manage seafood supply and prices," adding, "Our seafood is a necessity that supports our people's nutrition and health. However, as seafood supplies have recently become unstable, many people are increasingly worried that it is becoming harder to enjoy our seafood as before."
He added, "Many are also concerned that across-the-board price increases stemming from the war in the Middle East could lead to higher prices for our seafood," and, "We will mobilize every tool we have to manage seafood supply and prices."
The Vice Minister also said the ministry would move quickly to integrate AI into the oceans and fisheries sector. He said, "In many industries, including manufacturing and logistics, AI is already boosting productivity," adding, "To ensure the oceans and fisheries sector does not fall behind the times, we will swiftly establish a mid- to long-term roadmap for an AI transition."