Mokpo Coast Guard Collects Marine Debris Washed into Harbor by Heavy Rain

Mokpo Coast Guard is collecting marine debris using a pollution control vessel. (Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard Station)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Due to heavy rainfall in the Jeollanam-do region, a large amount of aquatic plants and other debris flowing in from the upper reaches of the Yeongsan River have drifted to the Yeongsan River estuary floodgate and the area around Peace Plaza, prompting the Coast Guard to conduct emergency collection.

The Mokpo Coast Guard Station (Chief Im Jae-su) announced on the morning of the 8th that it collected 4 tons of marine debris, including piles of aquatic plants washed away by the heavy rain, in the waters off Samhakdo and in front of Peace Plaza in Mokpo City.

On that day, the Coast Guard quickly deployed a containment vessel to the site to collect marine debris that obstructs maritime traffic and causes marine pollution, handing it over to the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation.

A Mokpo Coast Guard official said, “Marine debris floating in the sea causes navigation obstacles for vessels and leads to marine pollution,” adding, “We will continue to carry out debris collection operations jointly with related agencies to create a clean marine environment.”

Meanwhile, the Mokpo Coast Guard Station also collected a total of 135 tons of large-scale household waste that flowed into Mokpo Port due to heavy rainfall last August, working together with related agencies.

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