National Honam Biological Resources Center Confirms Habitat of 221 Fish Species in Jindo

74 New Species Discovered... Including Previously Unrecorded Domestic Porgy Species

The National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region, under the Ministry of Environment, announced on the 26th that a total of 221 fish species were confirmed to inhabit the entire area of Jindo through field surveys on fish species diversity and reviews of past academic literature records.

This survey was conducted with the aim of conserving biodiversity in island areas and strengthening biological sovereignty, resulting in the identification of 74 fish species previously unrecorded in Jindo.

The presence of a previously unrecorded species of seabream in Korea was confirmed off the coast of Jindo. Provided by the National Honam Biological Resources Center

Notably, the presence of a fish species from the Sparidae family (scientific name: Sparus aurata), previously unrecorded in Korea, was confirmed for the first time along the coast of Jindo. This fish is characterized by a yellow pattern between the eyes and a large black spot on the operculum, and it is mainly distributed in the Mediterranean region.

Currently, research is underway to analyze the pathways of introduction, distribution information, and genetic characteristics, with the results expected to be published in a specialized academic journal. Based on this, it is planned to be added to the national species list.

The National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region has been continuously conducting biological surveys and explorations of island areas annually since 2021. The survey targets are gradually expanding, focusing on island areas that are rich in biological resources but have been under-researched due to difficult access.

Yoo Gang-yeol, Director of the Island Biological Research Division at the National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region, stated, “Islands and coastal areas have relatively well-preserved ecosystems compared to terrestrial areas, making biological resources very abundant. We will continue to secure distribution information and specimens of biological resources in island areas to accumulate foundational data for biodiversity conservation for future generations.”

This survey is regarded as an important achievement for protecting the unique ecosystems and biodiversity of island areas.