Haenam-gun Accelerates Efforts to Eliminate Styrofoam Buoys, Major Cause of Microplastics

Restrictions on New Installation of Styrofoam Buoys at Kim and Oyster Submersible Farms Starting from the 13th of This Month

[Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Jeonnam Haenam-gun announced that it is accelerating efforts to achieve zero use of Styrofoam buoys, which are considered a major cause of marine environmental damage and microplastic generation.

According to the amendment of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Fishery Management Act Enforcement Rules, from the 13th of this month, the installation of new Styrofoam buoys in suspended aquaculture farms such as seaweed and oyster farms will be prohibited, and this will be expanded to all fishery grounds from November 13 next year.

Haenam-gun has been actively promoting related projects with the goal of achieving a 100% distribution rate of eco-friendly buoys by 2024 to practice ESG in the fisheries sector. Eco-friendly buoys are certified buoys that do not use Styrofoam or meet certain standards such as environmental safety and impact resistance, resulting in almost no Styrofoam particles.

In particular, this year, the largest-ever project budget of 11 billion KRW has been secured to distribute about 1.1 million eco-friendly buoys.

To encourage fishermen to actively adopt eco-friendly buoys, the county has increased the subsidy rate to cover up to 80% of replacement costs, reducing the burden on fishermen to 20%. This 80% support rate for eco-friendly buoys is the first in the nation.

Including this year's 1.1 million units, more than 2 million eco-friendly buoys have been distributed so far, and the county plans to make every effort to secure next year's project budget as well.

A county official said, "We will be the first in the country to achieve 100% conversion to eco-friendly buoys and establish a sustainable fishery foundation starting from the land's end sea," adding, "We will also strive to help fishermen recognize the seriousness of marine environmental issues and participate in reducing marine waste."

Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun alwatros@asiae.co.kr

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