As the catch of octopus declines, fishermen face increasing challenges, prompting Jeonnam Gwangju to initiate marine resource recovery through the release of juvenile octopuses.
On October 18, the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Marine and Fisheries Science Institute announced plans to sequentially release 40,000 juvenile octopuses produced in-house to restore dwindling octopus resources and secure stable income for fishermen.
Initially, 20,000 juvenile octopuses were released in the Shinan area, with plans to release the remaining 20,000 in due course.
The juvenile octopuses being released are bred using a patented hatching device developed by the institute's Resource Development Research Center.
The center secured fertilized eggs from high-quality female octopuses in April and raised the juveniles for about six months. They noted that the use of their patented hatching device improved production efficiency.
Octopus is a high-value seafood product and a significant income source for local fishermen along the southwestern coast. However, production has been on the decline, and this year has seen a substantial drop in catch, highlighting the importance of resource management and recovery.
In response, the Marine and Fisheries Science Institute is focusing on supplementing natural octopus resources through artificial seed production and releases, aiming to establish a sustainable fishing foundation.
The release program, utilizing self-produced seeds, is significant as it reduces reliance on external seed sources and strengthens the foundation for marine resource development in local waters.
However, for the release program to lead to actual resource recovery, continuous monitoring and analysis of the survival rates, growth conditions of the released juveniles, and future catch changes are necessary.
Jeon Chang-woo, head of the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Marine and Fisheries Science Institute, stated, "Octopus is a high-value seafood resource and a major income source for fishermen. We hope this release will aid in resource recovery and increase fishermen's income."
He added, "We will continue to promote the production and release of high-quality seeds to contribute to marine resource recovery."
Meanwhile, the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Marine and Fisheries Science Institute resumed its octopus seed release program in 2023 after a hiatus since 2019, having released approximately 230,000 juvenile octopuses to date. They plan to continue expanding their marine resource development efforts using high-quality seed production technology to ensure stable income for local fishermen.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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