On the morning of March 21, a pod of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins is seen feeding off the coast of Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo City, Jeju. (Yonhap)
JEJU, South Korea, April 2 (Korea Bizwire) — The provincial government of Jeju announced on Tuesday a comprehensive plan to manage the coastal waters of Shindo-ri in Seogwipo as part of a broader initiative to protect the endangered Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, locally known as the “Nam-bang keun-dolgorae.”
This follows the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ recent decision to designate 2.36 square kilometers of ocean off Shindo-ri as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), marking a significant step in preserving the habitat of the endangered species.
Once designated, development activities that could threaten the dolphins’ habitat—such as indiscriminate coastal construction and offshore wind farms—will be prohibited.
Under the new five-year management blueprint, Jeju plans to establish public education facilities and eco-trails to raise awareness and encourage conservation of the dolphins, which number only about 110 to 120 individuals in South Korean waters—all of them residing off the coast of Jeju.
In addition to Shindo-ri, the government also included 1,075.08 square kilometers of ocean surrounding Gwantaldo in Chuja-myeon, Jeju City, in the proposed protected area. This marks South Korea’s first large-scale MPA exceeding 1,000 square kilometers under the Marine Ecosystem Act, signaling a new milestone in national marine conservation efforts.
If the designations are finalized, Jeju’s network of MPAs will expand to five areas, totaling approximately 1,092.9 square kilometers—up dramatically from the current 15.46 square kilometers encompassing Munseom, Rabbit Island, and parts of Chuja Island.
While general fishing activities will still be permitted within the MPAs, the use of large-scale fishing gear such as stow nets and trawlers will be banned. Coastal harvesting activities, including foraging in tidal flats, will also be restricted.
Jeju is also exploring a plan to formally designate the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin as a protected ecological entity under Korean law—a move aimed at enhancing legal safeguards for the species amid growing environmental threats.
The finalized protections are expected to be fully implemented in 2026.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
