▲ Employees of the Jeju Regional Coast Guard and members of the Bukchon-ri Fishing Village Guild conduct a marine cleanup activity at Daryedo Island in Bukchon-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, on the 30th.
"We aren't going to be able to clear away all the trash today anyway. Don't be too greedy, safety comes first so watch out and don't get heatstroke!"
At 10:00 a.m. today (the 30th) at Bukchon Port in Bukchon-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City.
Amid a scorching heatwave well exceeding 32°C (90°F) from early morning, the energetic voices of Jeju Regional Coast Guard officials and members of the Bukchon-ri Fishing Village Guild echoed through the assembly point at Bukchon Port as they underwent safety training.
The marine cleanup activity held today was joined by 26 employees from the Jeju Regional Coast Guard and about 30 members of the fishing village guild.
Before heading to Daryedo Island, an uninhabited island right in front of the port, they packed jumbo bags, tongs, and heatwave-response working gear, and boarded large and small fishing boats belonging to the guild.
Daryedo Island consists of several rock islands and reefs located about 400 meters away from Bukchon Port.
It covers an area of 24,700 square meters and is made of basalt.
The island is also famous as a wintering site where flocks of mandarin ducks, a natural monument, visit every year when winter comes.
Although the island was right before their eyes, there were waves and shallow waters, so it took about 10 minutes to reach Daryedo.
The guild members, mostly female divers (haenyeo), walked around the tidal flats holding jumbo bags and tongs.
When a lot of trash was spotted on a reef not far from the rocky shore, some did not hesitate to step into the sea water to pick up the garbage.
Wooden pallets, pillars, styrofoam, and various plastic fishing gear were scattered all around outside the reefs.
It seemed impossible to clear it all away with just a single environmental cleanup effort.
The shapes and colors of the fishing gear were diverse, leading one of the guild members steering the boat to remark that it looked like trash from various countries had gathered together.
All sorts of abandoned fishing nets were also visible everywhere.
Coast Guard special operation forces jumped into the water bare-bodied to install lines on the sub-islands, and then continuously hauled out abandoned fishing gear using small rubber boats.
On top of the low-elevation reefs, several tons of various debris seemingly washed up by currents and waves appeared to occupy the center.
As human access is prohibited to the reefs and rocky shores of Daryedo, household-style waste was rarely seen.
However, once debris flows into the low reefs and rocky shores, it is difficult for it to escape outward, causing it to continuously accumulate.
The cleanup activity lasted for about two hours.
The Coast Guard estimated the amount of waste collected here today to be about 10 tons.
Jeju Regional Coast Guard Chief Yeo Sung-soo, who took office on the 27th and sweated alongside fishermen at the site today, said, "It was even more rewarding and fulfilling to have my first meeting with local residents this way," adding, "Because it is a place where access is not easy, it is difficult to carry out large-scale environmental cleanup activities, but I would like to create as many opportunities for activity as possible."
Lee Sang-hyup, head of the Bukchon-ri Fishing Village Guild, said, "I am very grateful that the Coast Guard officers came all the way to our Bukchon-ri to join us in marine cleanup activities."
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designated the period from the 20th to the 31st of this month as the "Marine Debris Cleanup Week Immediately Following Heavy Rains."
During this period, related organizations such as local governments, the Coast Guard, the Korea Marine Environment Corporation, and port corporations, along with volunteers, collect debris washed down from rivers and conduct cleanup activities in areas where waste flows in, such as major ports, coastal areas, and breakwaters, in preparation for natural disasters like typhoons.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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