6 days Ago By Korea Bizwire
A pod of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins swims off the coast of Daejeong-eup in Seogwipo, Jeju, on the morning of March 21. (Yonhap) JEJU, April 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean government has designated two new marine protected areas off the coast of Jeju Island, including the habitat of the endangered Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, in a major step toward conserving the region’s fragile marine ecosystems. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries officially declared on April 11 that the waters off Shindo-ri in Seogwipo and around Gwantaldo in Jeju’s Chuja-myeon are now designated marine protection zones.
The decision followed a series of public consultations and received support from local residents, according to Jeju provincial authorities. Shindo-ri’s coastal area, covering 2.36 square kilometers, marks the first time South Korea has established a marine protected area specifically to preserve the habitat of the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin.
Fewer than 120 of the dolphins are believed to inhabit the waters surrounding Jeju Island, making the move especially critical for species survival. Meanwhile, the waters surrounding Gwantaldo—spanning a vast 1,075.08 square kilometers—have been designated as a marine ecosystem conservation area.
The zone is home to vital habitats for protected marine plants and coral species, including various types of seaweed and soft corals. It is the largest marine protected area ever established in South Korea under the Marine Ecosystem Act, which previously focused on smaller, nearshore regions. With the new additions, Jeju Island now has six officially designated marine protected areas, including Munseom (since 2002), Chujado (2015), Rabbits Island (2016), and Ojori (2023).
Under Article 27 of the Marine Ecosystem Act, the new designations will restrict activities such as the capture or collection of marine organisms, construction, sand mining, and waste dumping within the protected zones. The Ministry plans to develop a comprehensive management plan that includes local community support initiatives, while Jeju Province aims to raise public awareness through educational programs, eco-tourism events, informational materials, and the training of marine ecology interpreters. “With these new designations, we are laying the groundwork not only for systematic marine conservation but also for a sustainable model that balances ecological protection with community-based economic growth,” said Oh Sang-pil, director of Jeju’s Department of Oceans and Fisheries.
Lina Jang ([email protected]).
