Yeoncheon County Releases 830,000 Freshwater Snails into Imjin and Hantan Rivers to Restore Fishery Resources

Yeoncheon County Accelerates Efforts to Create Healthy Imjin and Hantan Rivers
Cleanup Activities Support Fishery Resource Restoration and Ecosystem Conservation

Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province announced on November 19 that it had released 830,000 juvenile freshwater snails, a native species, into the Imjin River and Hantan River areas on November 18, with about 30 local fishermen and others in attendance.

Yeoncheon County released 830,000 juvenile freshwater snails, a native species, in the Imjin River and Hantan River areas on the 18th, with about 30 local fishermen and others in attendance. Provided by Yeoncheon County

The freshwater snail, a native species belonging to the phylum Mollusca, inhabits only clean, unpolluted streams and prefers gently flowing areas with gravel and sand. It can grow to over 4 cm in length and is popular as a food ingredient due to its high amino acid content, which helps improve liver function. It is also recognized as a keystone ecological species that contributes to river water purification and the maintenance of biodiversity.

This release was part of Yeoncheon County’s ongoing efforts to restore fishery resources and rehabilitate the ecosystem, aiming to create a healthy river environment and stabilize the population of native species.

Prior to the release event, fishermen conducted a cleanup activity in the Imjin River and Hantan River areas, collecting about 10 tons of waste, including household garbage, discarded fishing gear, and used tires.

In particular, fishing lines and hooks, which pose a serious threat to wildlife, were intensively removed to help create a safer ecological environment.

Kim Deokhyeon, Governor of Yeoncheon County, stated, "Restoring disappearing native species to our rivers will not only help recover the aquatic ecosystem but also bring meaningful benefits to the income of local fishermen. We will continue to actively support the diversification of fishery resources and the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem."

Meanwhile, Yeoncheon County plans to release a variety of fishery resources in 2026, including eel, Korean bullhead, freshwater crab, and Korean perch, and is accelerating the establishment of a sustainable ecological resource circulation system.

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