Wonju, June 29 - The Korea National Park Service (KNPS, Chairman Song Hyung-geun), an affiliate of the Ministry of Environment, began the restoration project of the mudflat ecosystem on June 25. The project is currently being piloted to restore the mudflat ecosystem, which has been destroyed or adversely affected by indiscriminate clam digging. 

The KNPS will limit the visitors' access to 15 ha of the mudflat around the northern part of Mongsanpo Beach from July 25, 2022, to July 24, 2023. Before it becomes fully effective, the KNPS will have the "guidance period" concerning the restoration project from June 25 to July 24, 2022. Normally, over a thousand people visit the mudflat at the Mongsanpo beach every day during summer, which has caused the mud to harden, the shellfish population to decline significantly, and the urgent need for recovery. 

According to the study on ecological disturbance around the Taean mudflat conducted last year by the KNPS and Jeonnam University, the habitat density of all shellfish in the Mongsanpo area was only 28.2% of the surrounding areas. The habitat density of clams, which tourists most prefer during clam digging, was found to be only 30% of the nearby locations. 

The KNPS plans to carry out various activities to raise public awareness of ecosystem preservation of the mudflat areas, such as ecological education. The ecological education will include the following: Releasing small fish; not collecting more than specified; and not using illegal tools, such as fat innkeeper worm pumps and shovels. There will also be rental baskets with labels indicating shellfish sizes for release.

"We began the restoration project of the mudflat ecosystem to preserve the valuable mudflat, which is the home to a variety of living species and purifies contaminants to restore naturality," said Chairman Song. He added, "We need active participation from the public to restore the ecology effectively."

Contact: Kim Kwan-joo

Marine Conservation Division, KNPS / +82-(0)33-769-9384 

Foreign Media Contact: CHUN Minjo

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr