Gwangyang Steelworks Clean Ocean Volunteer Group Conducts Underwater Cleanup at Baealdo

Collection of Marine Debris Abandoned Along Taein-dong Coast Ahead of Sea Day on 31st
Employees with Scuba Diving Certification Lead Local Community in Marine Environment Conservation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Kim Ji-yong) Clean Ocean Volunteer Group announced on the 28th that they conducted underwater cleanup activities around Baealdo Waterfront Park in Taein-dong, Gwangyang City from the 26th to the 27th.

The Clean Ocean Volunteer Group carried out volunteer activities for the residents of Taein-dong, who suffer from marine waste abandoned along the coast ahead of Sea Day (the 31st), and for the preservation of the clean local marine ecosystem.

About 12 Clean Ocean volunteers participating in the service wore skin diving equipment and directly entered the sea to thoroughly collect marine waste. The marine debris collected during this volunteer activity, including abandoned fishing nets, discarded fishing gear, and used tires left underwater, totaled approximately 5 tons.

The Gwangyang Steelworks Clean Ocean Volunteer Group is an in-house talent volunteer group formed in 2009 by employees certified in skin diving, conducting underwater cleanup activities twice a month to protect the marine environment along the coast near Gwangyang Steelworks.

Last weekend, they also visited Nancho Island near Donghoan together with the Yeosu Coast Guard Station (Gwangyang Police Substation), donning oxygen tanks as usual. On this day, along with collecting marine waste, they eradicated crown-of-thorns starfish that harm fishing villages. The collected starfish will be used as fertilizer for compost, providing a dual benefit to the fishermen.

Jung Joong-young, the leader of the Clean Ocean Volunteer Group, said, “Abandoned fishing nets underwater posed a risk of ship accidents, so I thank the Clean Ocean volunteers and Fishermen’s Association President Kim Maeng-cheol for participating in the marine waste collection work for the safety of fishermen and marine environmental protection.” He added, “We will continue to raise awareness of the seriousness of environmental pollution among the local community and residents and strive to preserve the marine environment.”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang Steelworks operates a Clean Ocean Volunteer Group along with a talent volunteer group dedicated to protecting clean marine areas in island regions, working to preserve the marine ecosystem along the coast near the steelworks. In March, the two volunteer groups jointly visited Myodo-dong, Yeosu, to clean up the coastline and surrounding environment, actively practicing the management philosophy of ‘Corporate Citizenship for Mutual Growth with the Local Community.’

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