Shinan-gun Seeks Master of Barehanded Mudflat Octopus Fishing

The 2nd Sinan-gun Mudflat Octopus Barehanded Fishing Master Selection Contest Held

Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Park Woo-ryang) announced on the 22nd that it will hold the "2nd Shinan-gun Mudflat Octopus Barehanded Fishing Master Selection Contest" on the 27th at the mudflat of Mujigae Village, Aphae-eup.

This contest selects masters of barehanded fishing to preserve the traditional culture of mudflat octopus barehanded fishing techniques, which have been designated as National Important Fisheries Heritage No. 6. It was first held nationwide in 2019 but has been indefinitely postponed due to the spread of COVID-19.

Catching mud octopus with bare hands. [Photo by Sinan-gun]

Mudflat octopus barehanded fishing is a method of catching octopus using only bare hands and shovels without any special tools. Although it seems simple, it requires finding the small octopus breathing holes in the vast mudflats, making it a highly difficult fishing method that cannot be done without long experience and skilled techniques.

The contest features one candidate from each eup and myeon, selected from among the approximately 33,000 barehanded fishers in Shinan-gun who have more than 15 years of fishing experience. Two masters will be finally selected through the mudflat octopus catching contest and interview screening.

The selected masters will receive a technology encouragement fund of 4 million won from Shinan-gun and will carry out master activities to revitalize Shinan-gun’s fisheries, including technology transfer education and promotional activities.

Governor Park Woo-ryang said, "Mudflat octopus barehanded fishing, called the ginseng of the mudflats, is a fishing method with excellent traditional techniques and knowledge, designated as a National Important Fisheries Heritage. The county will continue to discover and support various policies, not only selecting fisheries masters but also preserving traditional fishing techniques to pass them on to future generations."

Since 2019, Shinan-gun has been operating a fisheries master selection system, and currently, seven masters of mudflat octopus barehanded fishing and two masters of Heuksan skate slicing have been selected and are active.