Targeting Four Marine Protected Areas Including Garorim Bay...
Expectations for Ecological Conservation and Increased Local Income
Chungnam Province has begun efforts to secure national funding for the systematic management of four marine protected areas in the province, including Garorim Bay.
On April 22, the provincial government announced that it had compiled management project plans for marine protected areas in four cities and counties?Seosan, Seocheon, Taean, and Boryeong?for 2026, and submitted an application for a total of 6,506,670,000 won in national funding to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
Marine protected areas are regions with rich biodiversity or outstanding marine landscapes, which are of high ecological value and require special conservation measures.
Currently, a total of 37 sites (approximately 2,047 km²) have been designated and are being managed across 10 provinces and metropolitan cities nationwide. In Chungnam Province, there are four such areas: ▲Garorim Bay in Seosan and Taean (marine life protected area), ▲Seocheon Tidal Flat (wetland protected area), ▲Taean Sinduri Dune (marine ecosystem protected area), and ▲Boryeong Sohwang Dune (marine landscape protected area).
Through this application, the province requested a budget allocation of 5,494,960,000 won for Garorim Bay, 534,100,000 won for Seocheon Tidal Flat, 424,410,000 won for Boryeong Sohwang Dune, and 53,200,000 won for Taean Sinduri Dune, totaling approximately 6.5 billion won.
The main projects include operating local management committees, collecting marine waste, supporting fishery seed production, and establishing eco-trails. In Garorim Bay, a key focus will be the monitoring of the spotted seal, a Class I endangered marine species.
According to the "Garorim Bay Comprehensive Plan" established by the province last year, the government plans to investigate the population of spotted seals and changes in their main habitat?sandbars?in order to develop sustainable conservation policies.
To this end, on April 11, the province established the nation’s first "Spotted Seal and Habitat Management Committee" and held its inaugural meeting, marking the start of full-scale protection activities.
Cho Jinbae, head of Chungnam’s Marine Policy Division, stated, "Through the marine protected area management project, we expect not only to systematically conserve the province’s marine ecological resources, but also to contribute to increasing the income of local residents in these areas." He added, "We will continue to pursue policies that promote both marine ecology and the local economy in harmony."
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