Pohang City Releases 850,000 Abalone Seedlings in 34 Fishing Villages

The on-site view of abalone seedlings in Pohang City.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City, Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 7th that it invested 581 million KRW on the 5th to purchase and release 850,000 abalone seeds, a species with high survival rate and added value, to 34 local fishing cooperatives.

Before the event, attendees removed starfish, a predator of abalone, from the village fishing grounds of the local fishing cooperatives. Then, haenyeo (female divers) and divers belonging to the fishing cooperatives settled the abalone seeds in areas with many reefs and abundant underwater food. The abalone seeds released that day, which had grown healthily to over 4 cm, are expected to be shipped as commercial products in 1 to 2 years, with an economic effect expected to be more than three times higher.

Jung Jong-young, head of the Fisheries Promotion Division of Pohang City, said, "We plan to continuously release high value-added species to increase fishermen's income and restore marine resources," and urged, "Fishermen should also do their best to create marine resources and manage coastal fishing grounds to enhance the release effect."

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