Uljin Snow Crab Recognized as Premium... Selected for National Brand Award 8 Consecutive Years

Most Loved by Consumers Nationwide

‘Wangdolcho Bakdal Snow Crab’ and ‘Hotge’ Quality Assurance with Tagging

Uljin Daegae, the premium snow crab of Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk, received the National Brand Award in the agricultural, fishery, and livestock product category for the 8th consecutive year on the 3rd.

Uljin Snow Crab and Red Snow Crab Street Performance Troupe. [Image source=Asia Economy DB]

Uljin Daegae, honored with the award for 8 consecutive years, is a treasure trove of marine and fishery resources and inhabits the waters around Wangdolcho, known as the underwater Geumgangsan. It has been loved by consumers for its excellent taste and quality.

The reason Uljin Daegae has been recognized as a premium product is primarily due to the great efforts of the fishermen.

The Daegae Trap Fishers’ Autonomous Community, voluntarily formed by about 90 snow crab trap fishermen with vessels registered at Jukbyeon Port, Hupo Port, and Gusan Port, has been making continuous efforts through cultivating the snow crab fishing grounds and protecting marine resources.

In addition, to protect the snow crab resources, fishing is legally prohibited from June to October, and an additional voluntary fishing ban period is designated in November, when fishing is otherwise allowed, which has been maintained for 20 years.

Furthermore, to protect Uljin Daegae resources, the “Coastal Fishery Daegae TAC System,” which limits the daily auction volume to one vessel per day through fishermen’s autonomous management, is uniquely implemented nationwide. Around May, when snow crab fishing ends, a cleanup operation is conducted to collect lost or abandoned ghost nets during fishing to restore the snow crab habitat environment.

Following the fishermen’s efforts, Gyeongbuk Province and Uljin-gun are also creating various environments, such as artificially establishing Daegae nursery reefs (artificial snow crab reefs) to promote spawning and spawning environments for female snow crabs.

In particular, Uljin-gun is implementing a quality assurance system to provide consumers with trust, along with creating an environment where premium snow crabs can grow well.

At the ‘2024 Uljin Daegae and Red Snow Crab Festival,’ held from February 22 to February 25 at Wangdolcho Square in Hupo Port, Uljin, high-quality snow crabs such as Bakdal Daegae and Hotge were differentiated by attaching ties printed with ‘Wangdolcho Bakdal Daegae’ and ‘Wangdolcho Hotge’ to the crab claws, which received a good response by allowing consumers to trust and seek them out.

The Wangdolcho Bakdal Daegae and Hotge quality assurance system is conducted by the producer organization, the Daegae Trap Fishers’ Autonomous Management Community (Chairmen Lim Gibong and Oh Jeonghwan), through strict quality verification and management from the cooperative auction stage, and continues throughout the year even after the snow crab festival ends.

County Governor Son Byeongbok said, “The fruits of the fishermen’s voluntary protection and cultivation have made it possible for Uljin Daegae to win the National Brand Award eight times in a row,” and added, “We will strive to continuously promote the excellence and brand value of Uljin Daegae and support fishermen to maintain its reputation.”