Confirmed Habitat of Marine Protected Species 'Balkongge' on Ansan Daebudo Island After Over 50 Years

[Asia Economy (Ansan) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The presence of the marine protected species 'Balkongge' has been confirmed for the first time in over 50 years in the Daebudo area of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute announced on the 23rd that during the regular ecological survey of Gyeonggi mudflats conducted in June, a species presumed to be 'Balkongge' was discovered in a mudflat in Daebudo, Ansan City. Further morphological and genetic analyses confirmed the presence of 10 to 20 Balkongge per square meter over approximately 1 square kilometer in the Daebudo area.

Balkongge, a crustacean belonging to the family Dotillidae, inhabits sandy intertidal zones (the area between the high tide and low tide lines). It is a species with a unique habitat and is very small, with a carapace length of only about 6 mm, and its population has been steadily declining.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designated it as a marine protected species in December 2021, prohibiting its capture and collection. Historically, fishermen in Gyeonggi Province reported abundant populations of bean crabs, including Balkongge. Records of its habitat in the Gyeonggi area remain only in academic publications from the 1970s (such as the 1973 Korean Flora and Fauna Guide published by the Ministry of Education), but recent official surveys had not detected it in the province.

Currently, its official habitat is confirmed only in two locations nationwide, including Muan in Jeollanam-do.

Kim Bong-hyun, director of the Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute, stated, "Although Balkongge does not have high economic value like blue crabs or shrimp, its main habitat, the sandy intertidal zone, has significantly decreased recently, making it a marine protected species that requires special attention. We will strive to conserve the population and habitat of Balkongge through further research."

In South Korea, a total of 88 marine protected species, including Balkongge, have been designated. Unauthorized capture or collection of these species can result in fines ranging from 3 million to 30 million KRW or imprisonment for up to three years under the Marine Ecosystem Conservation Act.

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