The sea is both the cradle of human civilization and the source of all life.

Humanity has long been connected through oceans, rivers, and lakes, forming a single community that shares intertwined histories, cultures, environments, and economies. Coastal and fishing communities have flourished through mutual exchange, shaped by their unique regional conditions and natural surroundings—with these very communities always at the heart of such development.

However, today, fishing communities around the world stand at a critical crossroads. Rapid industrial transformation, urbanization, climate change, and population decline are marginalizing these small communities, with many facing the threat of disappearance.

Through this globally connected ocean network and the International Conference on Fishing Communities, a global platform for fishing communities, the Korea Maritime Institute seeks to preserve and celebrate the distinct fisheries cultures and practices of each nation and region. At the same time, we aim to foster a new model of global collaboration and solidarity—one that links these traditions within a shared international perspective.

Now in its third edition, this year’s ICFC will be held in Incheon, a gateway city of global significance. The conference will serve as a diplomatic platform for policy dialogue, where national and regional governments, institutions, and communities come together to explore sustainable development visions for the future of our fishing communities and to seek inclusive pathways for cooperation and mutual prosperity.

For our fishing communities to thrive as sustainable, respected spaces for work, life, and rest, the ICFC will serve as a catalyst to draw global attention, foster shared commitment, and inspire collective action.