Dead Stranded 'Sanggwaengi' Marine Protected Species Found at Jeju Aewol Port

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] The carcass of a finless porpoise, designated as a marine protected species, was found on the west coast of Aewol Port in Jeju City.

According to the Jeju Coast Guard on the 10th, a report was received the previous day around 4 p.m. that a dolphin was dead on the coastal road in Aewol-eup, Jeju City.

The patrol team from Hallim Police Substation was dispatched and arrived at the scene around 4:20 p.m., where they found one dead dolphin washed ashore about 600 meters west of Aewol Port.

The Jeju Coast Guard attached a rope to the dead dolphin and lifted it onto the rocky shore. After collecting evidence and consulting with Professor Kim Byeongyeop of Jeju National University, it was identified as a male finless porpoise measuring 170 cm in length, 80 cm in girth, weighing about 60 kg, and estimated to have been dead for about 12 days.

No signs of illegal capture were found, and the carcass was handed over to the local government.

This year, the Jeju Coast Guard has found a total of five finless porpoises, all without signs of illegal capture.

A Jeju Coast Guard official said, “If finless porpoises or other cetaceans designated as marine protected species in Korea are found caught in fishing nets during operations or dead on the shore, please report promptly to the Coast Guard.”

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil panax33@asiae.co.kr

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