- Publication of the tidal flat storytelling book, ‘The Tidal Flat of Garorim Bay’-

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) announced that it had published the book ‘The Tidal Flat Storytelling Book – The Tidal Flat of Garorim Bay’ to inform ecological values and importance of the Bay’s tidal flat in Chungcheongnam-do on July 15 (Thursday).

Since 2011, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has published storytelling books that can be easily accessed by the general public with interpreted or illustrated marine ecosystem data directly experienced and observed by marine ecology experts, as well as data related data relavent to humanities, society, and history. A total of eight book series have been published on the subject of Gangjin Bay tidal flats in Namhae, Muuido tidal flats in Incheon and Ganghwa tidal flats.

The book published this year introduces the Garorim (加露林), which means ‘the place where dew drops gather to form a forest’. Garorim Bay is a semi-enclosed inner bay between Seosan-si and Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, serving as a spawning ground for various aquatic organisms and a major habitat for protected marine species such as spotted seals and milky fiddler crabs.

The Ministry designated the Garorim Bay tidal flat, which maintains a sound and healthy natural environment, as Korea's first 'marine life protection zone' in 2016. Later, in 2019, the Ministry included fishing areas, which were excluded from the initial recognition due to concerns about restrictions on fishing activities, to expand and designate the zone once again to be total of 92.04㎢.

This book introduces the 159 species of large benthos and halophytes, which has inhabited in the tidal flat from earlier days of Garorim Bay formation, in detail along with explanations and photos of protected marine creatures such as spotted seals (Phoca largha) and milky fiddler crabs (Austruca lactea), so that you can know the ecosystem health of the tidal flats. In addition, interesting stories related to Garorim Bay, such as the construction of the Gullpo Canal, and related stories including the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Incident overcome by volunteer activities of the people are also included in detail.

MOF plans to keep copies of this particular book at its each regional office of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and major research institutes, and also upload it on the 'Marine Environment Information Portal' (www.meis.go.kr) so that the public can view if freely.

LEE, Jae-Young, head of the Marine Ecology Division from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, cited, “I hope this book will serve to inform the values and importance of the marine ecosystem of Garorim Bay.” He also added, “the various stories in this book will raise understanding and conservation awareness of Garorim Bay, the first marine life protected area in Korea, and we will continue our efforts to increase the public understanding and participation in the conservation of Korea’s marine ecosystem”