1 week Ago By Korea Bizwire
Marine debris. (Image from South Gyeongsang Province ) CHANGWON, South Korea, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bid to tackle the growing problem of marine debris, South Gyeongsang Province announced on Tuesday its plan to develop a comprehensive “Marine Waste Distribution Map” aimed at improving waste management along the coastline. The provincial government has been relying on research conducted between 2019 and 2020 to guide its marine waste policy.
However, officials acknowledge that the outdated data no longer reflects the current scale or distribution of waste, limiting the effectiveness of recent response efforts. To address this gap, the province will monitor 112 coastal hotspots identified by seven city and county governments as areas with frequent marine waste accumulation. Beginning this month and continuing through December, government officials and cleanup crews will carry out seasonal surveys to assess the quantity and spread of debris in these areas.
The data collected will be used to pinpoint the most heavily affected marine zones and provide a detailed regional breakdown of waste distribution. This analysis is expected to inform more targeted and efficient cleanup strategies moving forward. “With the Marine Waste Distribution Map, we aim to secure more precise and actionable data to boost the effectiveness of collection operations,” said Lee Sang-hoon, director of the Provincial Bureau of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
“Marine litter is more than just an environmental issue—it has direct implications for our regional economy and the livelihoods of local fishermen. We are committed to building a more sustainable coastal environment through systematic management.” The province expects the mapping initiative to lay the foundation for long-term policy improvements as it prepares for future challenges in 2026 and beyond.
Lina Jang ( [email protected] ).
