Wando Parae, First Domestic Organic Seafood Certified

Certification Obtained by Nohwa-eup Seori Eco-friendly Parae Producers Association (14 Households)

Wado Parae has become the first in the nation to obtain eco-friendly organic seafood certification. (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Wando=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] The Eco-friendly Seaweed Producers' Association in Seori, Nohwa-eup, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, has obtained the nation's first eco-friendly organic seafood certification.

The certified fishing households number 14, with a total seaweed cultivation area of 459 hectares.

The organic seafood certification is a system where specialized certification agencies select and inspect under strict standards to provide consumers with safer edible aquaculture seafood, and the government certifies its safety.

The eco-friendly organic seafood certification for seaweed, received for the first time nationwide, is a remarkable achievement made possible by the association's systematic implementation of voluntary water quality, radiation, heavy metal component tests, and hygiene and record inspections to comply with certification standards.

It is expected that obtaining the certification will contribute to securing the safety of Wando seafood and promoting consumption.

Kim Hyo-myung, head of the Seori Fishing Village Cooperative, said, "In the early days, there were difficulties in producing seaweed, but the community awareness among aquaculture households and support from the county greatly helped us to continue until now," adding, "We are proud to be the first in the country to receive eco-friendly organic seafood certification."

Shin Woo-cheol, Wando County Governor, stated, "This certification opens the way for expanding domestic and international organic seafood items, and we will strive to establish our county as a leading region for eco-friendly seafood certification."

The county plans to prove the excellence of Wando seaweed not only through organic seafood certification but also through vegan certification, linking this to the development and sale of processed foods to support the seaweed industry.

Meanwhile, on the 22nd, the Seaweed Producers' Association of Seori, Nohwa-eup, visited the county office to commemorate the acquisition of the organic seafood certification and held a meeting with Governor Shin Woo-cheol to discuss difficulties. The members voluntarily donated 2 million won to the Jangbogo Scholarship Foundation.

Wando=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil alwatros@asiae.co.kr

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