Central West Sea Designated as Marine Protected Area

South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on June 6th the designation of a significant marine protected area spanning 1,050.18 square kilometers in the central West Sea. This new zone encompasses the uninhabited islands of Daeryeongdo, Gadeokdo, and Mokdeokdo in Ongjin County, and the Gyeokryeolbi Islands in Taean County.

The area is ecologically vital, serving as a key habitat for the finless porpoise, an internationally endangered species and a protected marine creature. It also provides a crucial resting place for seabirds such as the streaked shearwater and the black-tailed gull, highlighting its high ecological value. The Ministry aims to meticulously manage these habitats, even those located in distant waters.

This designation is a significant step towards fulfilling South Korea's commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to conserve and manage over 30% of the nation's waters by 2030. The newly protected area is the second-largest in the country by size, following the Gwantal Islands protected area in Jeju, which measures 1,075.08 square kilometers.

With this addition, South Korea now boasts a total of 40 marine protected areas. These include 18 wetland protected areas (tidal flats), 18 marine ecosystem protected areas, 3 marine species protected areas, and 1 marine landscape protected area. The Ministry emphasized that designating these areas is not merely about regulation but about enhancing the value of Korea's seas and strengthening ecosystem resilience. They also pledged to actively develop support measures to ensure coexistence with local residents.

“

The designation of marine protected areas is not simply regulation, but an effort to increase the asset value of our seas and foster ecosystem resilience. We will actively develop support measures for coexistence with local residents alongside ecosystem conservation.