Gwangyang-si Initiates Ecosystem Restoration by Releasing Native Catfish

Discharge into 10 Local Rivers and Reservoirs

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do announced on the 20th that on the morning of May 18, it released 170,000 juvenile catfish into 10 local rivers and reservoirs (Seocheon in Gwangyang-eup, Jeomdongje, Baegunje in Bonggang-myeon, Dongcheon in Okryong-myeon, Daejukje in Okgok-myeon, Supyeongje, Icheonje in Jinsang-myeon, Sueocheon, Ijeongje in Jinwol-myeon, and Singuje) to preserve the eco-friendly natural environment and increase the local native fish resources.

The released juvenile catfish are nocturnal freshwater fish living among stones or near the bottom in the slow-flowing middle and lower reaches of rivers. Thanks to their adaptability, they are not sensitive to pollution and can survive well even in less clean water, thus they are widely distributed throughout the inland waters of the region.

From 2004 to 2020, the city has continuously released about 3.67 million native fish species such as sweetfish, freshwater crabs, catfish, and dark sleeper, not only restoring the eco-friendly natural ecosystem but also creating an opportunity to raise awareness of fishery resource conservation among citizens.

Local fishery experts expect that this release project will help preserve the ecosystem of native fish species in local rivers and prevent the depletion of native fish populations that have sharply declined.

Park Seong-yi, head of the Marine Fisheries Team, said, “We ask that fishing activities using fishing gear be refrained from for a certain period to allow the juvenile catfish released this time to grow,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to conserve fishery resources through the release of various local native fish species.”

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