Gyeonggi-do Designates 17 Marine Greenbelt Areas as 'Fisheries Resource Management Waters'

Newly Designated Areas for Fisheries Resource Management Waters in Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has designated 17 marine areas where artificial reefs were installed as 'Fishery Resource Management Waters.' Fishery Resource Management Waters, known as the "Green Belt of the Sea," can be designated by city or provincial governors under the Fishery Resource Management Act.

This resource management policy protects artificial reef areas created as spawning and habitat grounds for shellfish and fish from indiscriminate capture and harvesting activities. The newly designated areas include 17 locations totaling 76 hectares, such as Gukhwado and Dorido in Hwaseong City, and Pungdo and Yukdo in Ansan City, where artificial reef facilities were constructed between 2019 and 2022.

Fishing activities will be restricted for five years in these designated areas. In particular, artificial land reclamation, dredging, construction of artificial structures, mineral extraction, as well as activities affecting fishery resources such as skin diving or pollution-causing acts are fundamentally prohibited.

Kim Seong-gon, head of the Marine Fisheries Division of the province, explained, "We plan to systematically manage fishery resources through the designation of Fishery Resource Management Waters and the expansion of juvenile fish release projects."

Previously, Gyeonggi Province designated 23 sites totaling 664 hectares, including artificial reef facilities, sea forests, and sea ranches, as Fishery Resource Management Waters by last year.