“No Mass Sardine Deaths” … Jomyeongrae, Changwon Special City 2nd Deputy Mayor, On-Site Inspection

by Song Jonggu

Published 17 Oct.2024 16:45(KST)

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam is making an all-out effort to prevent the recurrence of mass sardine deaths.

On the 17th, Jo Myung-rae, the 2nd Deputy Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, visited the Masanhang Marine New City area to conduct an on-site inspection aimed at minimizing citizen inconvenience by promptly collecting and disposing of the sardine carcasses.

Jomyeongrae, the 2nd Deputy Mayor of Changwon Special City, is conducting an on-site inspection at the Masanhang Marine New City sea.

The city confirmed a large influx of sardine schools into Masanhang on the 11th and carried out dispersal operations using fishing boats and government vessels. To prepare for potential mass deaths, the city established a constant communication system with related organizations such as the Masan Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, and set up a system for the continuous deployment of carcass collection and disposal teams and heavy equipment companies, completing thorough preparations.

So far, no mass sardine deaths have occurred in Masanhang; only a small number of carcasses have been found after sardine schools dispersed following the large influx. Over the past five days, 58 personnel including public officials and contract workers, along with 20 fishing boats and equipment, were mobilized to immediately collect 0.49 tons of carcasses, all of which were incinerated at a resource recovery facility.

Since the 16th, no further carcasses have been found, which is believed to be due to the pre-capture efforts in coastal purse seine and gill nets as part of the city’s “2024 Sardine Mass Death Recurrence Response Plan.” Compared to last year, the volume of sardines landed in the province has been on the rise.

Deputy Mayor Jo stated, “We will strengthen monitoring of deaths and maritime patrols to ensure that the Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival scheduled for the end of this month proceeds without disruption. In the event of mass deaths, we will focus administrative efforts on prompt collection and disposal to minimize inconvenience to citizens.”