WCC 2020 Rec 094 - Activity Report

Necropsy was conducted on three fresh finless porpoise carcasses at Konkuk University. Cause of death was most likely due to suffocation from bycatch, as bacterial test results came back negative and no notable lesions were noted other than the lungs. This was Korea’s first collaboration between researchers and a natural history museum to prepare skeletal specimens for future scientific and educational use at Kyung Hee University Museum.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries funded Plan Ocean to hold a marine-animal welfare booth at the Animal Welfare Expo hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, providing public education on ocean ecosystems, threats, rescue and rehabilitation of marine wildlife and finless porpoise bycatch mitigation, including hands-on gear demonstrations. The event improved public understanding and supported broader advocacy on sustainable marine management.

Plan Ocean held its second annual necropsy-based training programme, “A Day with a Wonderful Whale,” for veterinary students and supporters, complemented by a lecture from an Australian biologist on rescue and rehabilitation. The work glove found in the stomach during the necropsy represents a highly unusual case of foreign-object ingestion for a species known to selectively target its prey. This event strengthened practical skills and broadened public understanding of marine mammals.

Plan Ocean co-hosted a press conference with various NGOs, for structural reforms in Korean fisheries to promote sustainable and humane commercial fishing practices. We covered MMPA-related U.S. export barriers in Korea. This issue was raised in a national assembly meeting however there was limited progress on the matter.

MOF and Plan Ocean organised the first national expert meeting of the Finless Porpoise Conservation Network on 11 August, bringing together over 30 participants from 14 government, academic, and research institutions. The meeting connected researchers with government officials to share current research and identify opportunities for coordinated national action to support transboundary conservation efforts.

MOF and Plan Ocean held an international FPCN expert meeting alongside the ASCM conference, sharing annual progress and discussing themes for joint research in the coming year. Members also explored integrating future FPCN meetings into ASCM to improve accessibility and strengthen regional scientific collaboration.

We joined the ESCAP–NEAMPAN expert meeting with officials and researchers from China, Japan, Korea, and Russia to discuss marine mammal conservation. National policies, MPAs, and research on finless porpoises and spotted seals were reviewed. The meeting opened pathways for regional collaboration to strengthen foundational research. Plan Ocean emphasized the importance of international cooperation for NRFP conservation in the Yellow Sea.

MOF, KOEM and Plan Ocean co-organised the Expert Meeting on Marine Mammal Conservation in the Yellow Sea on 4 December, with Korean and Chinese researchers and NGOs. We reviewed regional data, shared threats, and research needs. Participants agreed on coordinated monitoring, improved MPA and OECM planning, and closer engagement with fishers, leading to the establishment of YESMaP, a new transboundary partnership for Yellow Sea marine mammals.