Suncheon City Operates Gillnet Fishing Suspension Period to Protect Fisheries Resources

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City announced that it will set and operate a voluntary suspension period for the installation of political partition (Geonganmang) fishing nets for 50 days from July 1 to August 20 to protect fishery resources and establish fishing order.

Geonganmang fishing is a method of catching fish by trapping them in nets installed in advance as the tide recedes, following the fish that come in with the rising tide. Fishermen near Suncheon Bay mainly catch mudskippers and shore crabs using Geonganmang nets.

Although the closed season independently implemented by Suncheon City has no binding force under the Fisheries Act and related regulations, the city has been setting and operating its own closed season every year since 2000 in consultation with local fishing cooperatives to conserve fishery resources and the ecological environment.

The city plans to encourage fishermen's participation by sending guidance letters to fishing cooperatives, broadcasting through village announcements, displaying closed season banners, and touring fishing cooperatives to have them dismantle Geonganmang fishing facilities in the Suncheon Bay area by July 1.

Along with this, activities to create a clean fishing environment, such as removing abandoned fishing gear installed in tidal flats, will also be carried out simultaneously.

A Suncheon City official said, "By voluntarily operating the Geonganmang fishing net installation suspension period, fishermen are protecting fishery resources such as mudskippers and shore crabs that represent Suncheon Bay, thereby increasing tidal flat productivity and enhancing fishermen's income."

Meanwhile, in addition to the voluntary suspension period for Geonganmang fishing, Suncheon City is contributing to fishermen's income generation by promoting projects such as fish seed purchase and release, fishing ground purification, and repair and reinforcement of fishery infrastructure to create a clean fishing environment and increase fishery resources.