"Our Sea Has Become Cleaner"... 81% Rated Water Quality Grade 1~2

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Announces 2019 Marine Environment Monitoring Network Survey Results

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Last year, 81% of South Korea's sea water quality was found to be 'Good' or higher.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the results of the '2019 Marine Environment Monitoring Network Survey' containing this information on the 3rd.

Since 1997, the Ministry has been conducting annual surveys by establishing a Marine Environment Monitoring Network to understand the environmental status of South Korea's seas.

According to this survey, among 425 nationwide monitoring points, 81% (346 points) were rated as Grade 1 or 2, indicating 'Very Good' or 'Good' levels. Seawater quality is evaluated based on five grades: 'Very Good - Good - Moderate - Poor - Very Poor.'

However, water quality tended to deteriorate relatively during the summer season. Among the total 425 points, the average annual number of Grade 4 and 5 points was 16, about 3.8%, but in August, 68 points (16%) were rated as Grade 4 or 5. The Ministry estimates this is due to eutrophication and oxygen depletion caused by rapid inflow of terrestrial pollutants into the sea from summer rainfall.

Compared to the 2018 survey results, the annual average was similar (348 points rated Grade 1~2 in 2018), but in summer (August), the number of points rated Grade 4~5 decreased by 41 (from 109 to 68). Considering that in the summer of 2017, 86 points were rated Grade 4~5, the Ministry views that the summer water quality of our seas improved last year.

This year, the Ministry plans to investigate marine water quality and seabed sediment pollution status at 425 points nationwide. Based on the evaluation results, heavily polluted marine areas will be designated as special management zones, and marine environment improvement projects such as expanding environmental infrastructure will be promoted. Additionally, to integrate terrestrial and marine environment management, the 'Ministry of Environment - Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Policy Council,' established in November 2018, will be regularly operated, continuing cooperation with the Ministry of Environment.

Data produced through the Marine Environment Monitoring Network survey can be accessed by searching for 'Seawater Quality Status Report' on the Marine Environment Information Portal and the National Statistics Portal.

Kang Jeong-gu, Director of the Marine Environment Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Maritime powers such as the UK possess over 100 years of marine environment and ecosystem data, and based on this, lead global marine policies. Taking this as a model, we will continuously conduct scientific and systematic marine environment surveys to help build a foundation for advancing as a global maritime power."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.