Goseong, Samcheok take proactive steps as octopus stocks decline sharply

The decline in octopus populations along the Gangwon Province coast has grown severe enough that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries recently held an emergency meeting with representatives from the National Federation of Fishermen's Unions and the Gangwon Fisheries Federation to discuss introducing a closed season and expanding spawning grounds. Amid that, Goseong-gun — the northernmost county on Gangwon Province's East Sea coast — announced Monday it is pushing ahead with a project to create octopus habitat and spawning grounds.

Samcheok had already taken proactive steps in January, releasing juvenile octopuses it had raised itself to boost the giant Pacific octopus population in coastal East Sea waters.

Both Goseong-gun and Samcheok have drawn praise for moving ahead of the central government to protect fishermen's livelihoods, acting before any national policy on a closed season, stricter overfishing enforcement or habitat improvements — such as clearing abandoned fishing gear — has been put in place.

Goseong-gun's project aims to install functional artificial reef complexes suited to the ecological needs of octopuses in coastal waters, creating stable conditions for spawning and habitation and laying the groundwork for sustainable fishing income.

To maximize the effect on octopus stock recovery, the county has again selected the coastal waters off Chodo-ri — the same site used last year — and plans to build a multi-tiered pyramid artificial reef complex at a cost of 167 million won ($108,000).

The reef design was chosen in April by the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province's artificial reef review committee as the most suitable structure for the Chodo sea area. Its three-dimensional form provides shelter and spawning space, making it effective at improving octopus habitat conditions.

Although the budget is modest, Goseong-gun expects the project to establish a systematic framework for managing octopus resources, restore the health of the coastal ecosystem and contribute to stable income for local fishermen.

"We hope this project will breathe new vitality into local fishing grounds," a Goseong-gun official said. "We will continue to develop a range of policies aimed at improving the fishing environment."

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' fisheries policy bureau held a meeting with the National Federation of Fishermen's Unions and the Gangwon Fisheries Federation at the Gangneung fisheries cooperative on June 17 to discuss measures to address the octopus decline.

Fishermen said catches of the giant Pacific octopus — one of the highest-value species along the Gangwon coast — have been falling due to illegal fishing and overfishing, and urged the government to expand spawning grounds and introduce a closed season.

They also called for greater government support and regulatory reform to improve the management of abandoned fishing gear.

It is against this backdrop that Goseong-gun has taken it upon itself to create octopus habitat and spawning grounds at the local level.