Gyeonggi Province, Which Created Clean Valleys, Now Embarks on 'Clean Sea' Initiative

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Gyeonggi Province, which has garnered attention for its clean valley restoration project by removing illegal facilities within gorges, is now making an all-out push to create 'clean seas.'

First Deputy Governor Kim Hee-gyeom of Gyeonggi Province visited Jebudo in Hwaseong City on the 26th and held a local residents' roundtable discussion on 'Creating Clean Gyeonggi Seas,' announcing plans to crack down on illegal parasol operations at beaches.

Deputy Governor Kim said, "The province will make its utmost efforts to create clean seas that not only fishermen who make their living from the sea can enjoy, but that 13.7 million residents of Gyeonggi Province can share together," and added, "We are planning to conduct enforcement without exception against various illegal activities that occur at sea and focus on handling marine waste generated at coasts and coastal areas."

Deputy Governor Kim then received a report on the status of cracking down on illegal facilities at Jebudo's waterfront and toured the site. He participated in Gyeonggi sea maintenance activities, including collecting garbage from the waterfront together with local residents.

Governor Lee Jae-myung, who has been waging a war against illegal facilities in valleys since last year, recently instructed active responses to cracking down on illegal activities occurring at sea, stating that he would return Gyeonggi's seas to the province's residents.

Accordingly, the province will begin enforcement starting the 29th of this month against illegal fishing activities such as the capture of juvenile fish, followed by simultaneous crackdowns on illegal parasols and illegal facilities that have been habitually occurring at undesignated beaches in Hwaseong and Ansan.

The completion of the Gyeonggi Sea Cleaning Vessel, which finished design last year and is currently under construction, is also expected soon. Once the 140-ton class cleaning vessel is completed, the province will be equipped with the ability to directly collect marine waste such as abandoned fishing gear and nets from the sea starting next year.

Meanwhile, those caught engaging in illegal fishing face 'imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won' under fishery-related laws and also face administrative sanctions such as cancellation of fishing permits and suspension of fishing operations.

Operating illegal parasols at undesignated beaches is subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won under the Public Waters Management and Reclamation Act for unauthorized occupation and use. Installing illegal facilities such as food sales containers is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million won under the Fishing Village and Fishing Port Act.