Goheung-gun Selected for 2024 Fisheries Resource Development Project Competition

National Budget 2.5 Billion KRW, Military Budget 2.5 Billion KRW

Establishment of Cuttlefish Spawning and Habitat Area in Doyang Sorok Region

Goheung County (Governor Gong Young-min) announced on the 27th that it has secured a total project cost of 5 billion KRW (2.5 billion KRW from the central government and 2.5 billion KRW from the county) for the 2024 Octopus Spawning and Habitat Creation Project, a fisheries resource development project sponsored by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

The selected fisheries resource development project will invest a total of 5 billion KRW over five years from 2024 to 2028 to install artificial structures (octopus complexes) and release juvenile octopuses in an area of 186 hectares around Sorokdo in Doyang-eup, Goheung County.

[Photo by Goheung-gun]

Previously, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries explained that it called for project sites from local governments and, after evaluation by a selection committee composed of academia and research institutions, the location selected by Goheung County was assessed as the optimal site for octopus spawning and habitat creation in terms of water temperature, depth, geology, and all other environmental factors.

Goheung County plans to designate the project area as a fisheries resource management zone simultaneously with the start of the project.

They will form a self-governing community (management committee) to conduct autonomous regulatory management and self-monitoring activities such as preventing illegal fishing and blocking foreign vessels.

Furthermore, even after the project ends, Goheung County will organize a self-management committee to autonomously manage and utilize the spawning habitat, promote and educate, and carry out related projects over five years from 2029 to 2033. At the same time, continuous fishery management and monitoring will be conducted to ensure systematic follow-up management and operation.

Meanwhile, due to recent climate changes such as high water temperatures causing deterioration of octopus spawning environments, fishing households have been facing difficulties. This Octopus Spawning and Habitat Creation Project is expected to play a significant role in the stable production, distribution, and management of octopuses.

A county official stated, “Once the high value-added octopus spawning and habitat is established, it will help increase the octopus population, improve fishermen’s income, and secure competitiveness as a tourism product through an increase in anglers.”

Goheung = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr

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