Sea and Tidal Flat Pollution in Gyeonggi-do Still 'Relatively Good'

Gyeonggi-do Marine and Fisheries Resources Research Institute is conducting water quality tests in the West Sea.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province recently conducted a three-year investigation into the pollution levels of the Gyeonggi sea and tidal flats, finding that the sea water quality is grade 2 or higher, and the organic matter and heavy metal pollution in the tidal flats are in good condition.

The Gyeonggi Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute analyzed the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Cultural Eutrophication Index (CIET) at 10 sea and tidal flat sites in Hwaseong, Ansan, and Siheung to evaluate water quality and organic matter pollution in tidal flats within the province. Over the past three years, 488 water quality surveys were conducted, with more than 81% rated as grade 2. Grade 2 indicates a healthy state with almost no external pollutants.

Additionally, among 90 cases of tidal flat organic matter pollution, only one was in a eutrophic state, and heavy metal pollution was either absent or at negligible levels, according to the Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute.

The institute plans to use these survey results as basic data for establishing marine environmental management policies through further research.

Kim Bong-hyun, director of the Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute, stated, "The institute is scientifically and systematically building data on fishing ground environments within the jurisdiction through regular water quality and sediment surveys. Based on this, we will strive not only to monitor sea pollution but also to improve fishery productivity."

Meanwhile, the Water Quality Index evaluates water quality on a scale from grade 1 to 5 based on five factors: dissolved oxygen concentration, phytoplankton concentration, transparency, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

Furthermore, the Cultural Eutrophication Index, used to determine pollution in tidal flats, analyzes three factors: loss on ignition, chemical oxygen demand, and acid-volatile sulfide.

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