Seok-Young Seo, a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly (People Power Party·Pohang), announced on the 18th that he has taken the lead in proposing the Gyeongsangbuk-do Ordinance on the Prevention and Management of Harmful Marine Organism Damage at the 350th extraordinary session.
The main contents of the ordinance include regulations on management and surveys for the prevention of harmful marine organism damage, financial support, and safety management support for beaches.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, from January to September this year, there were 4,224 jellyfish sting incidents at beaches nationwide, which is 5.6 times the 753 cases in 2023, with the damage mainly concentrated on the East Coast. (Gyeongbuk 977 cases, Busan 1,310 cases, Gangwon 618 cases in order) During the same period, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and local governments collected a total of 6,324 tons of jellyfish, an increase of 5.37 times compared to 1,176 tons in 2023.
As the related damage has become severe, Gyeongsangbuk-do issued a Nomura’s jellyfish caution level on July 12 and carried out damage prevention projects at 23 beaches in the province. In addition, an additional contingency fund was allocated to purchase jellyfish caught during fishing operations, and a jellyfish control project was implemented, purchasing 1,660 tons, but the project budget has already been fully exhausted.
Assemblyman Seok-Young Seo, who took the lead in proposing the ordinance, stated, “Due to the rise in sea water temperature caused by climate change, the damage is expected to increase every year,” and added, “Through this ordinance, we aim to support a more systematic response to the increasingly serious damage caused by harmful marine organisms.”
The ordinance, which passed the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee of the Provincial Assembly on the 11th, is scheduled to be finally approved at the plenary session on the 22nd.
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