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THE RESULT OF “THE PROJECT OF PURCHASING MARINE WASTES PULLED UP DURING FISHING” IN KOREA by Nam-Keun Jung*, Seung-Taek Hwang** and Seong-Oh Im*** *General Manager, Korea Marine Pollution Response Corporation(KMPRC) **Director, Marine Environment Division, ***Consultant, Korea Marine Pollution Response Corporation(KMPRC) INTRODUCTION Korea is surrounded by the sea on 3 sides and its area is wider than land 4.5times, So that we can have huge resources. It gives us cheerful surroundings, food resources like fish and shellfish, and industrial resources. Also, it's very important as a main sea route of imports and exports for our national economy. However, in addition to economic prosperity, rapid industrialization has also brought unprecedented environmental destruction to the sea. In general, 80% of marine pollution is attributable to waste materials thrown in from inland areas. Once waste materials are disposed to the sea, they cause severe destruction of spawning grounds and habitats of marine creatures, as well as threaten the safety of vessel operation (Fig. 1).
For reason of that, Ministry Of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries (MOMAF) understood the seriousness of marine pollution due to marine wastes, and has carried out the project of collecting marine wastes in earnest from 1999 (Table 1). Table 1. The result of collecting marine wastes promoted by MOMAF in Korea from 1999 to 2005
In this presentation, I'd like to show Korea's activities for improving marine environment by introducing "The project of purchasing marine wastes pulled up during fishing" promoted by MOMAF, At the same time, showing advantages of this project, I'd like to introduce another way for marine environment improvement. WHAT IS “THE PROJECT OF PURCHASING MARINE WASTES PULLED UP DURING FISHING”? The purpose of "The project of purchasing marine wastes" is improving the marine environment and recovering the fish resources by making fishermen bring back marine wastes pulled up like worthless fishing implements, rope and vinyl during fishing to harbour. And by carrying out this project, we are going to make fishermen raise the recognition of the marine environmental importance and elevate the effect of marine environmental improvement efficiently with low cost. If we look back on the background of this project, fishermen often pulled up many kind of marine wastes which were not expected with fishing net or fish hook during fishing operation. However, they were again thrown away into the sea. Even though fishermen brought them to a harbour, there were no places to dispose of them. So fishermen couldn't avoid throwing them away into the sea again. As the result, marine wastes like worthless fishing implements were continually being deposited in coastal areas which is spawning grounds and habitats of marine creatures. Marine wastes also were threatening the safety of vessel operation and having a bad influence upon fisheries due to the reduction of the fish resources. For this reason, MOMAF established this project that they purchase the marine wastes pulled up during fishing from fishermen on land and dispose of them. Now, fishermen get to have the recognition about marine environment as well as don't throw away them into the sea again. THE PROCESS OF THE PROJECT OF PURCHASING MARINE WASTES.. For carrying out this project, MOMAF, local municipals, the fisheries cooperative union, Korea Marine Pollution Response Corporation (KMPRC), Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Promotion Association (KFPA) and fishermen have participated in this project (Table 2). Let's look at the role of each organs. MOMAF take the project application from local municipals, make a decision of the project areas, make an allocation of the national fund estimate, and make a project guide. Local municipals also invest for this project and supervise it with MOMAF. The fisheries cooperative union plays a role in purchasing marine wastes from fishermen directly on the spot. KMPRC and KFPA plays a role in disposal of them, making sacks to collect wastes and supplying the national funds to the fisheries cooperative union. On the spot, The fisheries cooperative union distributes sacks to fishermen before going to fishing. Fishermen put them into sacks with the vessel name, fishing type, fisherman's name and phone number on it. When they get back to harbour, they give sacks which contain them to the fisheries cooperative union. Table 2. The role of each organs
Sacks are classified into 3 types, 40ℓ, 100ℓ, 200ℓ. and we pay for 4,000won, 10,000won, 20,000won to fishermen respectively. In case of the large size wastes which can't be packed into sacks, they should attach a tag on it. and we pay them 260won per kg (Fig 2). We also purchase shell, crab and eel traps.
THE RESULT OF THIS PROJECT The first project was established in 2003. We inputted 100% national funds for it, and carried out at 3 local municipals by way of showing an example. We spent 731 million won of national funds and purchased total 578 tons of marine wastes from fishermen. In 2004, we increased the number of local municipals from 3 to 11. And local municipals also inputted 20% of total funds. We spent total 1,707 million won and purchased total 2,453 tons of marine wastes. In 2005, we spent total 1,842 million won at 31 local municipals and purchased total 3,076 tons of marine wastes (Table 3 & Fig. 3). Table 3 . The result of the project of purchasing marine wastes from 2003 to 2005
THE ANALYSIS OF THIS RESULT The analysis of this result shows us that we decreased the removal cost of marine wastes substantially. For examples, let's compare this project with the project of collecting waste materials deposited underwater in coastal areas. Through the project of collecting waste materials deposited underwater, we spent total 6,893 million won and collected total 3,619 tons in 2004. In the same manner, In 2005 we spent total 7,965 million won and collected total 5,352 tons (Table 4). Table 4. The result of the project of collecting waste materials deposited underwater from 2004 to 2005
As we compare the cost per 1 ton of marine waste in 2004, this project cost 696 thousand won per ton. On the other hand, the collecting project cost 1,905 thousand won per ton. Likewise, in 2005, this project cost 599 thousand won per ton. On the other hand, the collecting project cost 1,488 thousand won per ton. It showed that this project substantially decreased the cost of removal compared with the collecting project in 2004 and 2005 and the cost decreased 37%, 40% respectively (Fig 4).
This result is because the collecting project needed a fleet of vessels consisted of a waste collecting boat, a towing boat and a crane barge. Also, we had to pay much cost to use a fleet of vessels due to high cost of vessels operation and oil cost. At this reasons, The cost of the collecting project was much relatively. On the other hand, this project didn't need a fleet of vessels like the collecting project. So, we just paid purchasing cost for fishermen, disposal cost of wastes, cost of labor and production cost of sacks. That's why this project was able to reduce costs. CONCLUSION As mentioned above, the project of purchasing marine wastes is effective system to reduce the budget comparing with other system like the collecting project. It could be applied to the present Korea's policy of low cost but high efficiency. Also, it made the local fishermen improve the recognition of the importance of marine environment. By carrying out this project, I think a vicious circle that fishermen's throwing away marine wastes pulled up during fishing into the sea will not be repeated again. And we could elevate the participation rate of fishermen because they could make the sea clearer and get the extra money by participating in this project. By Making full use of this project and sharing with you some of the good ideas, I hope that we improve this project more efficiently and contribute to make the sea clearer.
۞ Accompanying photo : The process of the project of purchasing marine wastes
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