Marine Desertification and Resource Depletion... Pohang City Selected for Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Project on 'Fishery Resource Spawning Grounds and Marine Forest Creation'

Jopibollak Spawning and Habitat Development Project to Invest 4 Billion KRW Over 5 Years with 800 Million KRW Annually

Marine Forest Creation Project to Invest Approximately 1.2 Billion KRW Annually for 4 Years at 2 Sites, Totaling 2.4 Billion KRW

Pohang City has been selected for two categories in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' public contest projects to support fishermen struggling with the increasingly severe desertification of the sea and resource depletion.

Grouper on an artificial reef.

Pohang City achieved success by being selected for two public contest projects: the ‘Rockfish Spawning and Habitat Creation Project’ to restore rockfish resources in the rocky areas (commonly known as Ureokbawi) of Samjeong-ri and Seokbyeong-ri in Guryongpo-eup, and the ‘Sea Forest Creation Project’ to artificially cultivate seaweed for the recovery of fish and shellfish resources in coastal village fishing grounds.

In particular, the spawning and habitat creation project in the Guryongpo-eup waters was the only site selected in Gyeongbuk among the six locations chosen this time, with a total investment of 4 billion KRW over five years, allocating 800 million KRW annually, funded 50% by the national government and 50% by local government.

On the project site covering a total area of 167.1 hectares, spawning and shelter areas, release and growth grounds, and ecological migration grounds will be established to create a sustainable rockfish ecological restoration fishing ground through resource settlement and management. This area, where artificial reefs, sea forests, and coastal sea ranches have been established, is expected to maximize the effect of rockfish resource recovery through this project.

Additionally, the Sea Forest Creation Project was selected for two locations: Gangsari in Homigot-myeon and Mopori in Janggi-myeon, including the Gupyung-ri section of Guryongpo-eup. A total of 2.4 billion KRW will be invested over four years, with 1.2 billion KRW allocated each, funded 80% by the national government and 20% by local government.

As part of the government’s 2050 carbon neutrality policy, the Sea Forest Creation Project will be newly implemented from next year as a ‘Blue Carbon (carbon neutrality)’ sea forest creation project involving corporate participation. With Pohang’s representative company POSCO and the government each investing 50%, the project secured 700 million KRW in national funding. This achievement allows the project to proceed entirely with national and corporate investment without the city having to bear the previously planned 167 million KRW local government expenditure for the existing sea forest creation project.

A Pohang City official stated, “Thorough preparation, including a one-year preliminary impact assessment of the project site, preparation and presentation of the project plan, and the active willingness of fishermen adjacent to the waters, became the opportunity to be selected for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ public contest projects.”

He added, “Through the Rockfish Spawning and Habitat Creation Project and the Sea Forest Creation Project, we will create an exemplary case where the public, private sectors, and corporations jointly cooperate to find solutions not only for marine ecosystem conservation and coastal resource recovery but also for carbon neutrality and climate change response.”

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