Hampyeong-gun in South Jeolla Province has released 150,000 juvenile webfoot octopus and cuttlefish into its coastal waters in a bid to restore marine resources and increase income for local fishers.
The county announced Thursday that it had released the juvenile species into waters off Seokchang Port in Sonbul-myeon to support fishery recovery and boost fishing livelihoods.
On June 18, county workers released 100,000 disease-free juvenile webfoot octopus into waters near Seokchang Port. On June 24, they released 50,000 juvenile cuttlefish.
The Resource Enhancement Research Institute of the South Jeolla Province Marine and Fisheries Science Institute provided the juvenile stock free of charge. About 40 people took part in the release, including members of the Hampyeong-gun chapter of the Korea Fisheries Business Management Association and local fishers.
Hampyeong Bay is a clean coastal zone rich in diverse marine species — including webfoot octopus and cuttlefish — and offers ideal conditions for spawning and habitat.
The two species are among the most important sources of income for local fishers. The county plans to continue regular juvenile releases to help rebuild fish stocks and increase catches.
"We are grateful to the South Jeolla Province Marine and Fisheries Science Institute for its continued support in providing juvenile stock," a county official said. "We will do our best to breathe new life into Hampyeong's coastal waters and help improve the livelihoods of our fishing communities."
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