Haenam-gun Accelerates Efforts to Eliminate Styrofoam Buoys

Published 01 Dec.2021 16:51(KST)

Distribution of 1.1 Million Eco-Friendly Buoys in 2022, Fisheries Management Act Revision Gains Momentum

Providing eco-friendly buoys. ⓒ Asia Economy

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam County, Jeollanam-do is accelerating efforts to replace styrofoam buoys with eco-friendly buoys.

According to the county on the 1st, styrofoam buoys, which are widely used in fishing grounds, are easily damaged during use and turn into microplastics, causing damage to the fishing environment and posing a major threat to the marine ecosystem.

This year, Haenam County distributed 340,000 eco-friendly buoys, a 230% increase compared to last year.

To this end, the county increased the local government subsidy rate by 10% to 38%, added 42% from national and provincial funds, providing a total support rate of 80%, reducing the burden on fishermen to 20%.

Raising the eco-friendly buoy support rate to 80% is the first in the nation, reducing the burden on fishermen and gaining momentum for the spread of eco-friendly aquaculture in the clean sea of Ttangkkeut and sustainable fishery development through marine environment conservation.

The county plans to secure additional national budget for next year and distribute up to 1.1 million eco-friendly buoys, a 330% increase.

Recently, related to this, a partial amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Fishery Management Act, which mainly restricts the new installation of styrofoam buoys used in aquaculture farms and other fishing grounds step by step, was promulgated on the 12th of last month.

Accordingly, from November 13th of last month, styrofoam buoys can no longer be newly installed in submersible aquaculture farms (such as seaweed and oysters), and from November 13th next year, two years after the promulgation, styrofoam buoys cannot be newly installed in all fishing grounds.

However, existing styrofoam buoys can still be used, but only eco-friendly buoys can be newly installed.

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan said, “Since last year, we have been actively working to promote the distribution of eco-friendly buoys in fishing grounds in advance. With the recent amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Fishery Management Act, we expect sustainable fishery development through the spread of eco-friendly aquaculture in the clean sea of Ttangkkeut and marine environment conservation.” He added, “We will continue to actively promote projects and secure budgets to achieve a 100% eco-friendly buoy distribution rate first in Haenam.”