Boseong-gun Launches Restoration Project for True Cockle Resources

by Heo Seonsik

Published 09 Jul.2024 11:15(KST)

Expectations for Restoring the Former Glory of 'Beolgyo Kkomak' with the Release of 75 Million Shells

Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 4th that it released approximately 75 million artificial seed cockles (121kg/each measuring 1.5mm) into five aquaculture sites including fishing villages to restore the cockle resources and increase fishermen's income.

The cockle is one of Boseong-gun’s representative marine resources and is registered as the first Geographical Indication seafood product, Beolgyo Cockle. It is harvested through the nationally important fishery heritage No. 2, the mudflat boat fishery.

[Photo by Boseong-gun]

Boseong-gun, the main production area of cockles, accounted for about 70% of Jeollanam-do’s production. However, due to climate change and overfishing, the annual production, which reached 20,000 tons in the 1990s, sharply declined to 8,500 tons in 2010 and 28 tons in 2023.

In response, Boseong-gun has invested about 1.5 billion KRW since 2021 to release 302 million artificial seed cockles (578kg/each measuring 1.5mm) produced at the ‘Beolgyo Cockle Seedling Hatchery’ into the waters of Boseong-gun, making every effort to restore cockle resources.

Annual monitoring of cockle survival rates suggests that from the winter of 2025, the success of the cockles released in 2021 will be harvestable, which is expected to greatly contribute to price stabilization and the expansion of consumer demand for cockles.

A Boseong-gun official said, “Cockles are the highest value-added shellfish due to their excellent flavor and unique texture,” adding, “We will continue to cooperate with local fishermen to restore cockle resources, increase fishermen’s income, and revive the past reputation of Beolgyo Cockles to help revitalize the local economy.”