Gijang-gun Releases 310,000 Abalone Seedlings... Efforts to Increase Fishermen's Income

250 Million Won Invested in Aquatic Seed Purchase and Release Project

Gijang County (County Head Jeong Jong-bok) announced on the 13th that it recently released 310,000 abalone seedlings into village fishing grounds in fishing villages to create fishery resources and increase fishermen's income.

This release was carried out as part of the "2024 Fishery Seed Purchase and Release Project," with a project budget of 250 million KRW (50% city funds, 50% county funds) invested.

On the 9th, about 100 participants including Gijang County, Busan City’s Busan Resource Research Institute, Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, and fishermen’s organizations simultaneously conducted boat releases and underwater releases by haenyeo divers in the waters of 15 village fishing grounds, including Gongsu.

Additionally, before releasing the seedlings, Gijang County’s seaweed farmers took the initiative to create an environment suitable for abalone growth by controlling starfish, a natural predator, within the release area.

The abalone released this time are vigorous seedlings measuring over 4.0 cm each, which have passed disease inspections at the Busan City Fishery Resource Research Institute. They are expected to grow to over 10 cm while feeding on seaweed such as sea mustard and kelp in Gijang County’s clean waters.

Jeong Jong-bok, head of Gijang County, said, “The depletion of fishery resources has become severe recently due to high water temperatures and other factors. This abalone release will greatly help restore fishery resources and increase fishermen’s income.”

Through the fishery seed release project, the county has released 1.59 million abalone into village fishing grounds over the past five years. In collaboration with the Busan City Fishery Resource Research Institute and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, the county continues to promote release projects for various species such as sweetfish, black porgy, and flatfish.

Gijang-gun is releasing 310,000 abalone seedlings into the fishing grounds of the fishing village cooperative.

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