Korea Fisheries Resources Agency Spread Defective Artificial Reefs in the Sea

Artificial Reefs with 11.5 Trillion Won Invested: 80% Fail Legal Standards and Are Released into the Sea

Fisheries Resources Management Corporation Inspects Only Samples Without Verifying Compliance with Standard Specifications

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Yoon Jae-gap (Haenam·Wando·Jindo) / ? Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] According to data submitted by the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency to National Assembly member Yoon Jae-gap (Democratic Party, Haenam·Wando·Jindo) of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, 80% of the artificial reefs created with an investment of 115 trillion won so far did not comply with the standard specifications announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The artificial reef installation project is conducted to assist the spawning of marine organisms and create habitats, and is carried out by the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency under commission from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Since 1971, about 115 trillion won has been spent, with 123.5 billion won executed in the last five years.

Despite such a huge budget, about 3,500 artificial reefs are damaged annually on average. Member Yoon Jae-gap pointed to "non-compliance with standard specifications" as the cause of the damage.

According to the standard specifications announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the formwork must remain in place for at least 3 to 4 days before dismantling. If the concrete does not achieve the appropriate compressive strength, durability and stability decrease, raising concerns about damage or overturning after installation.

However, the investigation revealed that only 20% of the 434 artificial reef projects ordered in the last five years complied with the standard specifications. This is because the ordering method was conducted in the form of goods contracts, so the agency only conducted sample inspections of finished products and did not verify compliance with legal standards such as the standard specifications.

Member Yoon Jae-gap emphasized, “The agency must thoroughly manage and supervise the artificial reef production process to manufacture artificial reefs according to legal standards, improve completeness, and reduce the amount of damage.”