KOMSA expands fishing-village recycling project, creates waste gear drop-off sites

The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) is expanding its fishing-village cooperation project aimed at recycling discarded fishing gear and protecting the marine environment. The agency plans to create new collection sites for waste gear and build an integrated management system covering collection, sorting and disposal — steps it says will help address marine litter and ghost fishing.

KOMSA announced Friday that it had carried out activities under its corporate social responsibility brand "On-Wave" together with the Jinchang fishing cooperative in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, on Thursday.

On Thursday, the agency conducted an intensive waste-gear cleanup at Obongsan Beach and, reflecting a request from the fishing cooperative, set up a pilot waste-sorting space near the local pier. Going forward, KOMSA plans to establish a full management system for the Jinchang cooperative covering everything from gear collection and sorting to final disposal, and to expand the number of designated sorting sites.

The activities brought together KOMSA's in-house volunteer group "Hyeogsin Eojang," the Jinchang fishing cooperative and social enterprise Small Action. At a local welfare facility, participants made seasonal kimchi and delivered it to 200 vulnerable households in the area.

Last year, KOMSA partnered with a fishing cooperative in Goheung-gun, South Jeolla Province, on a project called "On the Boat," which recycled about 250 kilograms of discarded fishing nets and ropes into fish-transport carriers and gear boxes. This year, the agency is expanding the initiative into a broader social contribution model that combines waste-gear recycling with support for vulnerable groups and community development.

"A safe sea is built together through a clean marine environment and vibrant fishing communities," KOMSA Chairman Ahn Young-cheol said. "We will expand cooperation with fishing cooperatives, social enterprises and local communities to build a social contribution model in which maritime safety and regional vitality reinforce each other."