Pohang City Holds Ceremony to Commemorate Expansion and New Designation of Homibando Marine Protected Area

‘Homi Bando National Marine Ecological Park Development Project Preliminary Feasibility Study Approval Prayer Rally’

On the 27th, Pohang City held the 'Homigot Peninsula Marine Protected Area Commemorative Event' near the Hand of Coexistence in Homigot-myeon.

On the 27th, Pohang City held the 'Homigot Peninsula Marine Protected Area Commemoration Event' near Sangsaeng-ui Son in Homigot-myeon.

This event was held on this day after the second day of the '16th Marine Protected Area Conference,' originally scheduled for the 21st, was postponed due to bad weather. The event included a resolution rally praying for the preliminary feasibility approval of the Homigot Peninsula National Marine Ecological Park Development Project, together with local residents.

The event concluded with a drone performance aimed at expanding and newly designating marine protected areas, following the release of sea cucumber seeds to restore the marine ecosystem and increase fishery resources.

The marine protected area is designated over approximately 0.25㎢ in Daebo 2 and 3-ri, Homigot-myeon. Pohang City is promoting plans to newly designate and expand this area to include Guman-ri, Daedongbae-ri, Daebo 1-ri, Gangsa-ri, as well as Seokbyeong-ri to Gyewon-ri in Janggi-myeon and Guryongpo-eup.

Currently, a comprehensive marine ecosystem survey is being conducted through the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Marine Environment Corporation. If the project proceeds smoothly based on the survey results, it is expected to become the largest marine protected area along the East Coast region.

Additionally, the event attracted attention by preparing souvenirs such as Lego bricks, magnets, and badges featuring 'Gebadam-al,' 'Saewoo-mal,' and 'Cheong-eo' to promote and raise awareness of Pohang City's marine protected areas. Gebadam-al and Saewoo-mal are key marine protected species and core elements of the designated marine protected area, while Cheong-eo was recently designated as Pohang's city fish.

Vice Mayor Kim Nam-il stated, “As the UN has agreed to establish a global treaty to designate 30% of the world's oceans as marine protected areas by 2030, Pohang will take the lead in preserving the marine ecosystem, which is being damaged by indiscriminate development and climate change, through marine protected areas.”

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