"Save the Ocean" ... Changwon Special City Mobilizes All-Out Effort to Collect About 30 Tons of Marine Waste

Mayor Hong Nam-pyo: "We Will Do Our Best to Quickly Collect Marine Floating Waste and Minimize Inconvenience for Fishermen"

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam is making every effort to collect floating marine debris that has flowed in due to record-breaking rainfall exceeding 500mm.

Changwon Special City Mayor Hong Nampyo is collecting floating debris in the sea.

It is estimated that about 40 tons of marine debris were generated between the 20th and 21st, scattered from Masan Port in Masanhappo-gu to the Deokdong-Gusan-myeon area. Most of the debris consists of vegetation that flowed in from rivers, and if not collected in a timely manner, this vegetation can be washed ashore by currents, causing inconvenience to residents, obstructing fishing vessel operations, and leading to marine pollution. Therefore, prompt collection and disposal are essential.

On this day, Changwon City mobilized about 50 personnel, including public officials, the Masan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, and Marine Environment Keepers. For areas difficult to access manually, equipment such as grab cranes and collection trucks was rented to assist with the cleanup.

Currently, about 30 tons have been collected, and due to the nature of marine debris, it continues to flow in for 3 to 4 days after heavy rains. The city plans to strengthen monitoring and respond swiftly to any additional occurrences of marine debris.

Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, stated, "Marine debris is highly mobile due to the influence of currents and wind, making collection very challenging. We will do our utmost to quickly collect floating marine debris to minimize inconvenience for citizens and fishermen, and strive to further advance as a marine city by preserving the marine environment."