The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin resides along the shores near the town of Daejeong in Seogwipo. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
JEJU, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) – Environmental groups have launched a petition drive calling for the waters off the southern coast of South Korea’s Jeju Island to be designated a protected marine area to safeguard the habitat of an endangered dolphin species.
The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin resides along the shores near the town of Daejeong in Seogwipo. Conservation advocates say the dolphins’ existence is increasingly threatened by large-scale offshore wind farms, coastal development, boat tours, indiscriminate fishing and abandoned fishing gear that litters the sea.
“Not only dolphins but various marine animals that make the ocean their home are constantly injured or killed after becoming entangled in discarded fishing equipment,” the groups said in a statement on May 29. “Efforts must be made to protect all marine life by designating protected areas.”
The campaigners, including the documentary filmmaker known as Dolphin Man, aim to collect 10,000 signatures urging the waters off Daejeong to swiftly receive protected status, though the petition would not be legally binding.
Protected marine areas are designated and managed by national or local governments to preserve notable marine ecosystems, habitats and species.
In 2012, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin was officially listed as a protected marine species by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, which recognized its importance as an indicator of environmental conditions in Jeju’s waters.
The petition drive comes amid concerns that rapid coastal industrialization is jeopardizing the dolphins. “Large-scale offshore wind farms are being built without carefully considering their locations, leading to the destruction of dolphin habitats which poses a serious threat to their survival,” the groups said.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
