UOG CIS and Sea Grant collaborate with partners at Korea Sea Grant Week

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) joined an international delegation at Korea Sea Grant Week in November, strengthening partnerships between Korean and American marine conservation programs.

The event brought together representatives from all Korea Sea Grant programs along with a US delegation featuring representatives from Maine, Washington, California, Hawaii, and Guam Sea Grant programs.

The program featured presentations from UOG CIS & Sea Grant director Austin Shelton, Ph.D., who shared successful projects on Guam that deal with ongoing marine debris problems. He highlighted the work at the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub in his presentation.

UOG CIS & Sea Grant aquaculture lead David Crisostomo presented on the ongoing developments of aquaculture initiatives on the island including the recently launched third cohort of the Community Backyard Aquaponics Systems (CBAS) program.

Associate director for communications and community engagement Kyle Mandapat was the chairperson for the United States delegation’s presentation.

“Being here today and having the opportunity to collaborate, learn and inspire brings so many benefits for our program and all the programs in the Pacific,” said Mandapat. “We discussed collaborations that can bring successes for Guam both financially and in our ongoing movement for sustainability at home.”

The participation builds on UOG’s existing partnerships in the Pacific region, including collaborations with South Korea’s Gyeongin Sea Grant program on marine ecology research.

Korea Sea Grant Week provided a platform for programs to share best practices and learn from each other’s approaches to marine resource management, coastal protection, and sustainable development. The international connections support UOG’s commitment to building capacity across Micronesia and fostering knowledge exchange throughout the Pacific.

UOG achieved Sea Grant Institutional Program status from NOAA in 2022, recognizing its excellence in research, education, and public service dedicated to the environmentally responsible management of marine and coastal resources.