Jindo Waters Now "Half Water, Half Blue Crab"

The spring blue crab fishing season is in full swing in the waters off Jindo, which account for 30% of Jeonnam's total blue crab production.

According to Jindo County on April 24, about 20 to 30 blue crab fishing boats set out daily to catch seasonal spring blue crabs. Each boat hauls in 250 to 300 kilograms of blue crabs in the waters around Oebyeongdo, Naebyeongdo, and Gwanmaedo in Jodo-myeon.

Fishermen are sorting blue crabs. Photo by Jindo County

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Since last month, approximately 200 tons of blue crabs have been auctioned through the Jindo County Fisheries Cooperative at Seomang Port, with total auction proceeds reaching about 5 billion won. The daily auction volume is between 8 and 10 tons.

The waters of Jodo-myeon in Jindo County are characterized by the formation of cold-water masses, which provide abundant food such as plankton, and the sandy seabed is well-formed, creating a natural habitat for blue crabs.

In particular, Jindo County is a pristine area where red tides do not occur throughout the year. Since 2004, for 21 years, the county has banned sand extraction from the sea and has released more than 100 million won worth of blue crabs into the waters annually.

In Jindo, blue crabs are caught using traps, which enhances their market value compared to crabs from other regions. This has led to a steady stream of tourists seeking to purchase them. Currently, the auction price at the Jindo County Fisheries Cooperative is 30,000 to 40,000 won per kilogram.

Captain Kim Youngseo (Jindo County Trap Fishing Association) said, "The waters off Jodo-myeon and Jindo are bustling with the harvest of fresh, roe-filled Jindo spring blue crabs."

Jindo County and the Jindo County Fisheries Cooperative plan to hold the 9th Jindo Blue Crab Festival at Seomang Port from April 25 to 27. The festival will feature a surprise blue crab auction, a trot music contest, a Nanta performance, and a variety of other attractions.

There will also be plenty of side events, including blue crab fishing experiences, traditional cultural activities such as jegichagi and tuho, a multi-generational arcade, and balloon darts, adding to the enjoyment.

County Governor Kim Heesu said, "I hope everyone will enjoy the freshly caught blue crabs from our pristine waters and make wonderful memories at a festival that people of all ages can enjoy."

Meanwhile, Jindo blue crabs, which are in season and filled with roe that whets the appetite of gourmets, are enjoyed in dishes such as steamed crab, soup, salad, and soy-marinated crab. They are highly popular nationwide and supplied to large supermarkets and fish markets across the country.

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