Chungnam, Promoting Inland Water Industry... 'Fishing Leisure Complex Development' and More

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is set to promote the inland water industry within the region.

The province announced on the 22nd that it will establish and implement a mid- to long-term plan (2022?2026) for the development of the inland water industry.

The mid- to long-term development plan will focus on five key strategies: ▲establishing the central region as the premier fishing leisure hub ▲commercializing inland water fishery tourism products ▲revitalizing inland water fisheries ▲circulating Geumgang River seawater and preserving inland water fishery resources ▲building an inland water cooperative system.

The core objective is to comprehensively utilize and manage regional inland waters from next year through 2026, aiming to revitalize the local economy and increase fishermen’s income by protecting and fostering fishery resources and maximizing added value.

As detailed tasks to achieve this, the province has set goals including developing and nurturing inland fishing spots, attracting the construction of a fishing school by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, improving fishing spot environments, restoring native fish species, commercializing tourism products and revitalizing festivals, implementing inland water experience fishery projects, regenerating river villages, establishing a foundation for inland water fishery ecological conservation, building processing plants for harmful invasive species, and exporting related products.

Additionally, the plan includes activating youth lease projects for inland water fisheries, installing floating docks to prevent inland water fishery safety accidents, supporting the inland water smart fish farm project, modernizing inland water fish farms, following up on fishery resource measures related to Geumgang River seawater circulation, implementing the Geumgang Ranch project, and eradicating invasive, harmful, and useless species disrupting the inland water ecosystem.

Through these efforts, the province plans to create over 1,100 new jobs and increase inland water fishery production to 7,600 tons by 2026.

Jo Won-gap, Director of the Provincial Department of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, “The mid- to long-term development plan will serve as a basis for requesting project implementation and support from the central government. Through this, the province will focus on raising local residents’ interest and demand for inland water use and developing the inland water industry to revitalize the regional economy.”