Pyeongtaek City Holds Non-face-to-face Meeting on Jinwi and Anseong Stream Fishing Prohibition Zones

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Following an in-person meeting on January 19, Pyeongtaek City held a non-face-to-face meeting on the 16th to hear opinions from stakeholders regarding the designation of fishing prohibition zones in Jinwi and Anseong Stream.

The meeting brought together fishing-related associations and individual fishing enthusiasts opposed to the fishing prohibition zone designation, fishing equipment shop operators, fishing industry groups in support, village chiefs near streams, and environmental organizations to discuss the designation of the fishing prohibition zones.

Pyeongtaek City Mayor Jeong Jang-seon stated, "The designation of fishing prohibition zones is unavoidable for improving water quality in Pyeongtaek Lake and the aesthetics of the streams," adding "We will actively reflect the issues raised at this meeting."

Jinwi and Anseong Stream have been a focal point of citizen concern due to water quality degradation and environmental pollution caused by fishing activities such as bait and fish meal residue, as well as hazardous river activities including ice fishing, and a lack of cooperation regarding restrictions on migratory bird sanctuaries for avian influenza prevention.

In response, the city is collecting opinions through administrative notice from the 4th to the 25th to designate the entire Anseong Stream section in Pyeongtaek, and the entire Jinwi Stream section as national rivers (excluding the 2.2 km section on the left bank in Baekbong-ri, Cheongbuk-myeon, which will be excepted only for fishing) as fishing prohibition zones.