Samcheok City Launches Ecological Restoration... Begins Preparations to Release 500,000 Juvenile Salmon Next Year

Samcheok City Begins Full-Scale Preparations for 2026 Juvenile Salmon Release Project
Leading Ecosystem Restoration by Capturing Adult Salmon Directly

Samcheok City in Gangwon Province has officially begun preparations for its annual juvenile salmon release project, aiming for completion in 2026.

Salmon release event. Provided by Samcheok City

From October to November this year, the city plans to directly capture 2,000 adult salmon in the Osipcheon area to secure fertilized eggs. In March next year, 500,000 juvenile salmon will be released into the Osipcheon and Maeupcheon streams.

This project goes beyond a simple release, representing a strategic approach to ecosystem restoration and securing fishery resources. In particular, the city chooses to capture the salmon directly rather than purchasing them externally, because selecting individuals just before spawning and fertilizing their eggs ensures higher fertilization and hatching rates-a process that requires specialized expertise. Although salmon capture is currently prohibited, Samcheok City has obtained legal permission from relevant authorities to proceed with the project.

The capture operation will involve a team of 13 professional fishers working at a capture facility installed in the Osipcheon. The captured salmon will be fertilized using the dry method and managed in a hatchery, with plans to release them in the spring of next year (March to April).

Since 1969, Samcheok City has continued its salmon release project, releasing more than 88 million juvenile salmon to date. These efforts have grown beyond a local initiative to become a source of national pride, and the city continues to collaborate and exchange information with international organizations such as the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC).

A city official stated, "Salmon are a representative migratory species symbolizing the health of the ecosystem. Through this project, we are realizing a sustainable fisheries policy where nature and people coexist," adding, "We will continue to promote both ecological restoration and revitalization of the local economy."

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