Endangered and Nationally Protected Species 'Napalgodong' Sales Exposed
Up to 3 Years Imprisonment or 30 Million Won Fine for Possession
"No Promotion or Guidance Activities Since Government Measures Announcement"
The endangered species Napalgodong has been found to be illegally sold as food in multiple sashimi restaurants on Ulleungdo Island. There are calls for active protective measures by authorities to safeguard marine endangered species.
According to Lee Eun-ju, a member of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee from the Justice Party, it has been confirmed that Napalgodong, designated as a Grade 1 endangered wild species by the Ministry of Environment and a marine protected species by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is openly sold at the Squid Sashimi Town in Ulleungdo, Gyeongbuk.
Endangered Grade 1 Trumpet Snail sold at Ulleungdo Hoetown. [Image provided by Citizens' Group for Protecting National Parks]
After receiving a citizen report, Representative Lee, along with activists from the Citizens' Group for Protecting National Parks, inspected the site on the 2nd and found Napalgodong in three sashimi restaurants. Residents also testified that most restaurants have been selling or storing Napalgodong under the name 'Haebanggodong.'
Napalgodong is the largest gastropod species in Korea and is known as the 'pest of the sea.' It is almost the only natural predator that feeds on starfish, which devastate marine ecosystems. Possession of Napalgodong is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million KRW. If killed, the penalty increases to up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million KRW.
This distribution practice on Ulleungdo became controversial after Napalgodong appeared in the preview of MBC’s “I Live Alone” aired on the 25th of last month. A cast member was seen holding a Napalgodong displayed in an aquarium by hand, but this scene has since been removed from the preview currently available on the official website.
When cases of Napalgodong distribution were discovered in some areas of the southern coast such as Geomundo, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries jointly announced a protection plan last July to strengthen public awareness and on-site guidance to prevent bycatch and distribution of Napalgodong during the harvesting of edible gastropods.
However, upon reviewing data submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Representative Lee’s office found that after the joint government protection plan was announced last year, promotional activities were conducted only in some areas. The two ministries did not take measures such as nationwide surveys following the announcement.
The Daegu Regional Environmental Office, which has jurisdiction over Ulleungdo, reportedly did not conduct any promotional or guidance activities for over a year and only initiated an on-site investigation on the 13th after a complaint about illegal Napalgodong sales was filed through the National Petition System.
Representative Lee criticized, “The government always makes a big show of solving problems when they arise, but once they turn their backs, it’s over. How can they call it a joint government plan when they don’t even conduct a full survey to find out where and how endangered species are being illegally distributed and sold?”
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