Massive Minke Whale Caught Off South Korean Coast Fetches $53,000

A fishing boat operating off the coast of Ulsan, South Korea, has landed a significant catch: a 7.3-meter minke whale. The massive marine mammal became entangled in the nets of a fishing vessel captained by a man in his 60s, approximately 37 kilometers southeast of Bang-eojin Port.

The fisherman reported the unusual catch to the Bang-eojin Coast Guard station. Upon inspection, maritime police found no evidence of illegal fishing methods, such as harpoon marks or signs of metal detection, on the whale. This verification allowed the captain to receive a certificate for processing the cetacean.

The minke whale, measuring 7.3 meters in length, 3 meters in girth, and weighing an estimated 3.2 tons, was subsequently auctioned at the Bang-eojin fisheries cooperative. It fetched a price of 71 million won, roughly equivalent to $53,000 USD. Minke whales, a type of baleen whale, were historically hunted extensively but are now protected, making such catches rare and valuable.