SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Aquariums in South Korea will be banned from purchasing new cetaceans for display starting this week, officials said Wednesday, as animal rights activists have called for the release of whales and dolphins in captivity. The announcement came after the country revised the act on the management of zoos and [...]
JEJU, Nov. 14 (Korea Bizwire) – The Southern Bottlenose Dolphins of Jeju, beloved by Woo Young-woo, the heroine of the popular Korean drama ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo,’ will now possess basic legal rights similar to those of a person. On Monday, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government announced its intention to amend the ‘Jeju Special Self-Governing Province [...]
SEOUL, April 20 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on Wednesday that it would impose fines of up to 2 million won (US$1,510) on ships that approach dolphins or violate speed limits while observing them. The amendment bill to the Conservation and Management of Marine Ecosystems Act will impose a speed [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – A group of animal activists called Saturday for South Korea to free captive dolphins in line with the upcoming policy banning newly established aquariums from displaying marine mammals. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it plans to ban newly established aquariums from displaying whales and [...]
GEOJE, June 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Controversy has sparked over the practice of riding dolphins much like surfboards at a local aquarium in South Gyeongsang Province. Geoje Sea World, located in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, was found to be operating a program in which participants have photos taken as they ride dolphins around the swimming [...]
ULSAN, Sept. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – Anniversaries commemorating 100 days are a “thing” in South Korea, extending to relationships, babies, and even baby dolphins. Born in an Ulsan aquarium, the dolphin calf will have a 100-day commemorative celebration thrown for him at his home, Jangsaengpgo Whale Museum, where he will be officially bestowed with the [...]
BUSAN, May 26 (Korea Bizwire) – Data released on Thursday by the Cetacean Research Center (National Fisheries Research & Development Institute) has revealed that a total of 434 whales have been killed in incidental catch so far this year. According to officials, short-beaked common dolphins were the biggest victims in 2017 at 330, followed by [...]
BUSAN, Feb. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – A finless porpoise rescued from Geoje Island waters last month has been safely released back to the ocean. The porpoise was accidentally caught in the fishing net of a local vessel on December 27, giving it multiple scars. Luckily, the captain of the ship reported the incident to officials [...]
JEJU, South Korea, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – The illegal poaching of wild dolphins in waters off the coast of Jeju Island may have diminished in the past year thanks to local fisheries and animal rights activists, yet Korea’s wild dolphins are still facing threats, this time, from imprudent watersport activities. The coastal waters of [...]
JEJU, Aug. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The number of indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins in the seas off Jeju Island is slowly recovering after years of steady decline, thanks to cooperation from the local fishing industry and a drop in poaching. The National Fisheries Research & Development Institute (NFRDI) first started monitoring these mammals by distinguishing their physical [...]