On the 19th, the Fisheries Seed Research Institute under the Fisheries Division of Ongjin-gun County (Governor Jang Jeong-min) released about 350,000 juvenile rockfish into waters off Seonjin Port on Daecheongdo Island. The move is aimed at restoring fisheries resources and enriching fishing grounds in the waters off the five West Sea islands, and is expected to provide tangible income support for local fishermen who have struggled with depleted fish stocks and illegal fishing by Chinese vessels.
 [The Korean Today] Officials attending the rockfish release event © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
About 20 people, including the head of Daecheong-myeon Township, officials from related institutions, heads of fishing villages, and fishermen, attended the release event to mark the occasion and wish for the growth of fisheries resources and the revitalization of the fishing village economy.
The released rockfish were seed stock directly produced by the Ongjin-gun Fisheries Seed Research Institute, consisting of quality specimens measuring more than 6 centimeters in total length whose safety was confirmed through disease testing.
Rockfish are one of the representative fish species of the West Sea coast, known for their habit of settling in shallow coastal areas with abundant rocks and reefs rather than migrating over wide ranges. As they are also highly favored by consumers, the species has been recognized for producing a strong resource-boosting effect through such releases.
 [The Korean Today] Juvenile rockfish being released into the sea © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
Because of these characteristics, this release of juvenile fish is expected to bring tangible income gains for fishermen in the five West Sea islands, whose fishing conditions have recently worsened due to declining fish stocks and illegal fishing by Chinese vessels.
An Ongjin-gun official said, "For the sake of fishermen in the five West Sea islands who are struggling due to the decline in fish stocks, we will continue to research fisheries seed stock suited to the characteristics of the local waters and expand our own release programs going forward."
Ongjin-gun County has continued its program of releasing self-produced fisheries seed stock into the waters off the five West Sea islands every year, and this release was likewise carried out with the aim of building a foundation for sustainable fisheries and supporting the economic self-sufficiency of fishing villages in the border region.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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