Installation of Artificial Reefs Equivalent to 39 Soccer Fields in Incheon Deokjeok and Jawol Waters

The installation of artificial reefs [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City announced on the 23rd that it will install 307 artificial reefs covering an area of 28 hectares, equivalent to 39 soccer fields, in the waters of Deokjeok and Jawol in Ongjin-gun to restore the marine ecosystem.

The city plans to complete the installation by the 7th of next month with a budget of 1.8 billion KRW.

In the Deokjeok waters, 24 hectares of artificial reefs for fish will be created, and in the Jawol waters, 4 hectares of artificial reefs for shellfish will be established. These reefs were selected by the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency as suitable for the marine environment, including water depth and currents, in the waters of Deokjeok and Jawol in Ongjin-gun.

Artificial reefs are structures made of concrete or steel that create an environment where fish can inhabit underwater, essentially serving as "fish apartments."

When seaweed attaches and breeds on these structures, the current flow becomes gentler, allowing fish to hide or use the area as a spawning ground.

Since 1973 until last year, Incheon City has created artificial reefs covering a total area of 12,237 hectares.

According to the "Effectiveness Survey of Artificial Reef Facilities in Incheon Waters" conducted by the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, the catch of species such as blue crabs, rockfish, and black rockfish increased by about 2 to 4 times in areas where artificial reefs were installed compared to areas without them.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Artificial reefs provide high-quality habitats for aquatic organisms, improving fishery productivity," and added, "to maximize the effect of artificial reefs, we will continue to focus on post-management such as facility condition inspections, reinforcement of lost reefs, and waste collection after installation."

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