The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on July 25 that it has amended regulations to broaden the scope of fishery byproduct recycling. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on July 25 that it has amended regulations to broaden the scope of fishery byproduct recycling, now including their use as alternatives to sand for beaches and civil engineering projects.
This revision to the Enforcement Rules of the Act on Promotion of Recycling of Fishery Byproducts opens new avenues for the utilization of these materials, which have long been seen as waste in the fishing industry.
Specifically, the amendment adds five new categories for recycling fishery byproducts. These include beach nourishment sand, embankment fill for ground elevation, and soil cover for land reclamation. The ministry expects this expansion to significantly aid in recycling the approximately 300,000 tons of shellfish shells produced annually in South Korea.
Since the implementation of the Act on Promotion of Recycling of Fishery Byproducts in 2022, various products made from these materials have entered the market. These range from ceramics and facial cleansers to tiles, slippers, and even health supplements.
“Fishery byproducts are a resource with limitless potential,” said Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. He added, “We will continue to actively support the expansion of fishery byproduct recycling by identifying new applications for these materials.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
