The National Institute of Fisheries Science said on Monday that it has distributed among local fishermen posters to promote its efforts to catch female jongeo, which are typically longer than 50 centimeters in length and weigh between 5 and 13 kilograms. (Image: Yonhap)
BUSAN, April 17 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean researchers are offering a bounty of 300,000 won for those who catch jongeo, a rare breed of fish thought to be living in the Geum River.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science said on Monday that it has distributed among local fishermen posters to promote its efforts to catch female jongeo, which are typically longer than 50 centimeters in length and weigh between 5 and 13 kilograms.
South Korean researchers are offering a bounty of 300,000 won for those who catch jongeo, a rare breed of fish thought to be living in the Geum River. (Image: Yonhap)
The population of jongeo in South Korea has been almost non-existent since 1982, and the National Institute of Fisheries Science set free 2,000 fish bred through artificial seedling production technology in the Geum River in 2016, and an additional batch of 200 in the following year.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science has decided to catch female jongeo after a number of specimens caught recently were found to be smaller in size than usual, leading researchers to believe they are being reproduced in nature.
Since 2016, the National Institute of Fisheries Science and South Chungcheong Province have been working together to boost jongeo populations.
Ashley song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
