Cultivating a Trash-Free Incheon Coastal Sea... Privately Led 'Banryeo Beach' Operation

Agreement Signed with Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries at April 4 'Sea Day' Ceremony
Companies and Organizations to Promote Beach Cleanup and Landscape Improvement
Expansion to 3 Metropolitan Local Governments Including Incheon Following Last Year's Jeju-do

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun is collecting discarded fishing nets at the 'Barugesalgi Movement Council Sea Environment Protection Campaign' held at Masian Beach on Yeongjongdo Island. May 31, 2021. Photo by Incheon City.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is stepping up efforts to create a clean sea free of marine debris.

On the 4th, at the '26th Sea Day Ceremony' held in Geoje, the city will sign an agreement with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to jointly operate the 'Companion Beach' program.

The Companion Beach project is a program where companies, organizations, and schools take responsibility for a specific beach, caring for and maintaining it like their own pet. It began in Texas, USA, in 1986 and has gradually spread across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.

In Korea, following Jeju Island last year, the Companion Beach project will be expanded to three metropolitan local governments this time: Incheon City, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Chungcheongnam-do.

Incheon City plans to actively promote the Companion Beach project through an agreement with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, recognizing the need to utilize private sector capabilities to create a clean sea.

The city will select target areas for the Companion Beach, support participants' activities by processing the collected waste from beach cleanups, and more. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation will be responsible for creating program manuals, rewarding participants, and promotional activities.

Based on last year's pilot project results, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has developed a manual detailing participation periods, methods, and benefits to operate the Companion Beach program more systematically. Additionally, to encourage participation, various benefits such as installing Companion Beach signboards and awarding outstanding local governments and companies have been prepared. Furthermore, continuous promotion of participants and activities will be conducted through various media including terrestrial broadcasting and SNS.

Both parties intend for Companion Beach activities to evolve beyond simple beach cleanups into regional landscape improvement projects and venues for marine environment protection experiences and education.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Through the Companion Beach project, we will inform citizens about the seriousness of marine debris and the need to reduce it, and strive to enable public and private sectors to jointly fulfill the social role of protecting the marine environment."

Meanwhile, Incheon City plans to invest 9.9 billion KRW this year in activities such as sea environment guardians, purchasing debris collected during fishing operations, and collecting waste from uninhabited islands using marine environment cleanup vessels. The city will also enact marine debris management ordinances and conduct surveys on marine and microplastic pollution. Efforts are also underway to secure national funding for the construction of a marine environment cleanup vessel in Ongjin County next year.

The city is particularly focusing on reducing marine debris by preparing a 'Comprehensive Plan for Marine Debris Reduction,' planning to invest 112 billion KRW by 2025.

The comprehensive plan was led by the Environmental Special City Promotion Team, formed together with environmental activist Jang Jeong-gu, and was established through consultations with related departments, expert advice, field inspections, and fishermen's opinions.

The plan consists of four major strategies and sixteen tasks, including the installation of 56 marine debris collection sites, expansion of five treatment facilities in island areas, strengthening source management, and improving collection and transportation systems.