800,000 seeds released underwater in Yeosu through joint stock enhancement program.
The Jeonnam Marine and Fisheries Science Institute is stepping up efforts to restore coastal shellfish resources by mass-producing and releasing Keen’s gaper seeds into local waters.
The institute said it has signed an agreement with the Third and Fourth District Diving Fisheries Cooperative and the Yeosu Diving Autonomous Fisheries Community to carry out a pilot stock enhancement project aimed at the systematic management and recovery of valuable marine resources.
Keen’s gaper is a high-value shellfish species whose production has declined in recent years. Through ongoing research, the institute’s Future Fisheries Research Center successfully applied a new spawning induction technique in October last year, enabling large-scale production of high-quality seeds measuring more than 6 millimeters.
As part of the project, 800,000 Keen’s gaper seeds were released into coastal waters off Gyeongho-dong, Yeosu. To improve early survival rates, professional divers placed the seeds directly on the seabed using an underwater release method, maximizing the effectiveness of the stock enhancement effort.
The institute plans an additional release in March, deploying juveniles that have grown to more than 1 centimeter to further speed up resource recovery.
Following the release, the institute and participating organizations signed a business agreement to strengthen post-release management. The cooperation will focus on continued production and release of high-quality seeds, GPS-based monitoring of release sites and installation of marker zones, and scientific analysis of stock enhancement results.
By moving beyond one-time releases and introducing systematic follow-up management, the project is expected to serve as a model of public-private cooperation for sustainable fisheries resource management.
Keen’s gaper is considered a premium shellfish in the Yeosu area, typically selling for about KRW 7,000 to 10,000 per shell. The project is expected to help boost fishermen’s incomes while also supporting the recovery of coastal ecosystem health and biodiversity.
Source: Jeollanam-do Provincial Government
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