The ocean, which comprises 72% of the earth surface is the last frontier of development for the future prosperity of human Kind. Korea, located in the middle of Japan, China and Russia, assumes the role of trade center of North-Eastern Asia. The contribution of the ocean to the national economy is growing rapidly in Korea with an enormous ocean zone as wide as 3.8 times of its land area under control. The maritime industries such as shipping, port and fisheries have grown unprecedently since 1970`s when the national economy made its way into sustained growth era with export-driven development policy.

Especially, the shipping and port industries accomplished globalization with fleet tonnage world ranking of 8th and Pusan port container traffic of 5th. Fisheries industry, on the other hand, has contributed to the acquisition of food and foreign exchange. On the basis of such traditional maritime industries we should prepare for the 21st oceans century, especially in the fields of ocean resources development and environment preservation. In this study, we tried to establish a new paradigm of maritime industry policy and devise nation-wide development strategies from it. We also defined the role of KMI in the way of carrying out the strategies.

In Part Ⅰ(the new era of Bo-Go Chang opening and the future vision of maritime and fisheries industries), we analized such things as the objective of this study, environmental change, our growth potential, the vision of 21st century maritime and fisheries industries and so on. 

In Part Ⅱ (development strategies), various development strategies in the fields of environment, safety, shipping, port, international logistics, shipping community and tourism, fisheries, information system, new ocean culture and other related industries are drawn up. 

 In Part Ⅲ (formation of the foundation of long-term development), to carry out the development strategies drawn up in Part Ⅱ such measures as 1) securing money 2) reformation of administrative structure 3) manpower supply-demand plan 4) legal and institutional improvement and deregulation methods are suggested. In Part Ⅳ (the role of KMI and research projects for carrying out long term policy plan), to realize the 21st long term policy plan, we reexamined the management plan of KMI, new policy issues in the maritime industry, medium and long term research projects for KMI and so on. In the meantime, the development plan in this study is to be amended by the 1999 research subject of Regional Government Maritime Development Plan(2000∼2010) and subsequent discussion forums among the people from industry, research and the governmental agencies. With all the relevant amendments and modifications the Ocean Agenda 21 will be published by the end of 1999.