"Reducing Plastic Water Bottles Disposed into the Sea"... Coast Guard Cheong Launches 'Useangsun Project' in Full Scale

The Korea Coast Guard is expanding the nationwide implementation of the 'Useongsun (Bring Back Our Water Bottles to Recycle Resources) Project,' which recycles plastic water bottles generated on fishing vessels to maintain clean seas.

Marine plastics carelessly discarded into the sea cause not only environmental damage but also pose safety hazards by getting caught in the propellers of vessels at sea, leading to accidents.

In response, the Coast Guard planned the Useongsun Project to collect and recycle discarded plastic water bottles from fishing vessels, aiming to reduce marine plastics dumped into the ocean and establish a new resource circulation system.

Initially, through a pilot operation over about two years in the Jeju region, the project engaged 428 fishing vessels (cumulative) and collected approximately 4 tons, or about 85,000 water bottles.

Starting this year, all fishing vessels wishing to participate in the Boryeong, Gunsan, Sacheon, Sokcho, and Jeju areas can join. By gathering discarded water bottles in special bags provided by the Coast Guard and returning them, participants can receive various incentives such as recycled souvenirs.

This project is being fully implemented with the participation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives. The Coast Guard will lead education and promotion to encourage fishermen’s participation; the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Marine Environment Management Corporation will manage the recycling process of discarded water bottles; and the Fisheries Cooperatives will handle the collection management of returned bottles from fishing vessels.

A Coast Guard official stated, "The project holds greater significance as it goes beyond reducing marine plastics to contribute to carbon neutrality for future generations through resource circulation," adding, "We will strengthen guidance and inspections regarding the preparation of waste records and the presence of management plans on fishing vessels."

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