Garorim Bay, One of the World's Top Five Tidal Flats, to Be Designated as a National Marine Ecological Park

Chungnam Province Re-envisions 120 Billion Won Project to Pass Pre-feasibility Study
Presents Conservation and Utilization Strategies Including Spotted Seal Habitat and Eelgrass Bed Restoration

Chungnam Province has developed a strategy to respond to the preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study) in order to designate Garorim Bay, one of the world's five largest tidal flats, as a National Marine Ecological Park.

On August 29, the province held an interim briefing session on the "Pre-feasibility Study Response Service for the Designation of Garorim Bay as a National Marine Ecological Park" at the provincial government office, attended by over 20 stakeholders, including representatives from Seosan City, Taean County, Korea Maritime Institute, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation.

Since April, the province has been re-envisioning the project, which is valued at 120 billion won, with the goal of strengthening its policy and economic rationale.

At the briefing, the following strategies were presented: ▲ advancing the designation of the National Marine Ecological Park and inscription as a World Natural Heritage site ▲ increasing the conservation ratio ▲ managing marine protected species such as the spotted seal ▲ restoring tidal flats and eelgrass beds ▲ reducing coastal pollution as conservation strategies, and ▲ establishing a visitor center and marine ecology school ▲ operating experiential and educational programs as utilization strategies.

The province submitted a demand survey for the National Marine Ecological Park last year and aims to achieve designation in the second half of this year and the second inscription of "Korean Tidal Flats" as a World Natural Heritage site next year.

Garorim Bay is the nation's first and largest marine life protected area and is the only place in Korea where spotted seals can be observed from land.

A 2023 survey confirmed that Garorim Bay has the highest number of benthic species among major tidal flats, earning it recognition as a repository of biodiversity.

Jeon Sangwook, Director of the Provincial Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Bureau, stated, "We will develop Garorim Bay into a hub for marine ecological tourism where conservation and utilization are in harmony."