‘Restoration of Marine Resources’ Chungnam Releases 100,000 Mulleye Fish into Daecheon Port

Approximately 100,000 juvenile Kkomchi (Mullidae) larvae will be sequentially released in the waters near Daecheon Port, Chungnam.

The Chungnam Fisheries Resources Research Institute announced on the 16th that it has decided to release Kkomchi larvae to restore coastal fishery resources and increase fishermen's income in the province.

The release will begin with about 50,000 larvae on the first day and continue sequentially. Kkomchi, known to the public as Mullidae, is a representative winter income species in the region, characterized by rapid growth and high effectiveness in resource formation.

However, due to their spawning behavior from December to March, when they move to coastal areas and lay eggs on substrates such as seaweed, many eggs are left unattended after spawning in traps and nets, leading to frequent disappearance and a decline in catch volume each year.

In fact, the Kkomchi catch volume sharply decreased from 1,098 tons in 2020 to 601 tons last year. As a result, the auction price for a 20kg box of Kkomchi soared to 240,000 KRW as of December last year, increasing the need for resource enhancement.

Accordingly, on the 7th of last month, the Fisheries Resources Research Institute induced spawning of mother Kkomchi caught near Daecheon Port, secured fertilized eggs in land-based tanks, collected fertilized eggs attached to fishing gear (traps) in cooperation with fishermen, and managed them for one month to produce juvenile Kkomchi.

The juvenile Kkomchi to be released in the waters near Daecheon Port were produced through this process, and the Fisheries Resources Research Institute conducted disease inspections before release to verify that they are high-quality seeds.

The Fisheries Resources Research Institute stated, “We will strive to identify the causes of resource decline through continuous research on the life cycle and food organisms of Kkomchi. Ultimately, we will seek ways to maintain a steady population to help increase fishermen's income and enhance fishery resources.”

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