Dead Stranded Finless Porpoise Found in Aewol, Jeju

[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 rocky shore near Gueom Port in Aewol-eup, Jeju City.

According to the Jeju Coast Guard on the 15th, a report was received at 6:18 PM the previous day about a dolphin carcass on the rocky shore near Gueom Port in Aewol-eup, Jeju City.

The patrol team from Hallim Police Substation moved to the scene and arrived at 7:06 PM, discovering one dead dolphin about 200 meters east of Gueom Port along the coast.

The Jeju Coast Guard collected evidence from the dead dolphin and consulted Professor Kim Byung-yeop of Jeju National University, who identified it as a finless porpoise measuring 80 cm in length, 51 cm in girth, and weighing approximately 10 kg. Due to severe decomposition, the sex could not be determined, and it was estimated to have been dead for about 25 days.

No signs of illegal capture were found, and the carcass was handed over to the local government at 7:18 PM.

The finless porpoises found by the Jeju Coast Guard this year total 15, with 11 in January and 4 in February, all showing no 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 along the coast, please report promptly to the Coast Guard.”

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

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