- MOF collaborates with related institutions to jointly commence wild adaptation training for marine release -

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister CHO, Seung-Hwan) announced the official start of its preparations to release Bibong, the last Southern bottlenose dolphin left in Korean aquariums, including training for adapting to the wild ocean in cooperation with relevant institutions, community groups, and experts.

Around 120 Southern bottlenose dolphins inhabit the coasts of Jeju Island. Since designated as a marine protection species in 2012, they have been well protected and managed, and a total of 8 dolphins have been raised in Korean aquariums. However, starting with release of Jedol and Chunsam in 2013, the dolphins were released back to the oceans, one at a time*. Bibong is the last one remaining, and is currently housed in Jeju Pacific Land (Hoban Hotels & Resorts).

* 2013 (Jedol, Chunsam, Sampal), 2015 (Taesan, Boksun), 2017 (Geumdeung, Daepo)

For the protection and management of Bibong, MOF has been working with five institutions, social groups, and experts, including Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Hoban Hotels & Resorts, civic group Hot Pink Dolphins, and the Jeju National University, to form a Release Discussion Forum and Technical Committee to discuss protection and management strategies. By concluding an agreement on marine release and preparing a detailed release plan, release procedures commenced in earnest.

As a result, Bibong will leave the tank of Pacific Land, relocate to the enclosed net facility installed along the coast of Daejeong-eub Seogwipo-si of Jeju Island to undergo wild adaptation training, such as live fish feeding and communicating with the wild dolphin population. Finally, Bibong will be released into the coastal waters near the island.

The marine release process of Bibong will be conducted in a total of five stages: ▲ Release feasibility diagnosis and drafting of release plan, ▲ Adaptation training within breeding tank, ▲ Installation and transfer to enclosed net facility, ▲ Wild adaptation training within enclosed facility, and ▲ Release and post-monitoring.

The first stage is to diagnose the health and feeding status of Bibong, determine the viability of release, and to prepare a detailed release plan. After the Technical Committee consisting of experts completed the diagnosis and evaluation, including of Bibong’s health status, it was confirmed that Bibong was in a condition suitable for marine release.

The second stage of training within the feeding tank is to ensure the dolphin has the basic stamina needed to adapt to the wild, get used to live feed (live fish), and acquire hunting skills. Currently, Bibong has completed the training within the feeding tank and has been confirmed to have quickly adapted as can be seen from the dolphin’s hunting and preying on live feed.

Next, as part of the third and fourth stages, Bibong will be relocated to the enclosed net facility installed along the coast of Daejeong-eub, Seogwipo-si of Jeju Island to receive adaptation training for the wild environment and to attempt to engage in contact and interaction with the wild population, so that the dolphin may naturally join the wild population and survive once released. Once these training stages are completed, the dolphin will finally be released into the ocean.

At the time of release, a GPS-based tracking device is to be attached on Bibong to track the dolphin’s location and behavioral characteristics for more than a year for long-term monitoring. In addition, an identification number (the number 8) will be marked on the dorsal fin in order to identify Bibong with the naked eye. Ships or drones will be used to continuously monitor and observe its health and adaptation to the wild ecosystem, such as its interaction with the wild dolphin population.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries invited the experts who had been involved in the past releases of Geumdeung and Daepo to participate in the Technical Committee to prepare for the release of Bibong, and prepared plans on the training methods, timing and location of the release, and post-monitoring. Moreover, the Ministry plans to hold briefing sessions on the planned release for related experts and community groups, where they plan to actively review the opinions and feedback provided on the release.

For the dolphin to quickly adapt to the wild ecosystem once released into the ocean, experts stress that human contact should be minimized in the training process, with various external factors, such as noise or light, thoroughly blocked. It is particularly important to manage external factors during the training since Bibong will be the only dolphin undergoing training.

To ensure this, the Ministry plans to minimize all access and contact by the general public in all processes relating to the release of Bibong, and publicize its own videos and data that were recorded during each stage of the training.

Moreover, the timing of the release will not be defined in advance, but rather be determined by the Technical Committee after a holistic assessment of the dolphin’s health condition and training outcomes. No public events are planned for the release, which will take place using a ‘quiet release’ approach. Meanwhile, there will be alternative plans for the protection and management of Bibong just in case the release is deemed unfeasible after the adaptation training process.

Taking advantage of the release of Bibong, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will further accelerate the improvements in policies that promote the welfare of marine animals. From now on, all new acquisitions of cetaceans by aquariums for exhibition purposes will be fully prohibited. Any activities that may trigger excessive stress to the cetaceans already in aquariums, such as riding on their backs, will be prohibited, and their protection and management in aquariums will be enhanced, such as by establishing “standards and guidelines on experience-based programs.”

In addition, establishment of new aquariums, currently handled on a registration basis, shall be based on authorization. Moreover, policies on the safety of the marine animals shall be reinforced, such as policies on actions that result in the abuse of or apply stress to the aquarium animals, interfere with the migration or feeding of marine animals while on observation or tour programs, and penalties for any violations.

Based on such details, the amendments to the Zoo and Aquarium Act and the Marine Ecology Act are currently tabled at the National Assembly, where MOF plans to actively support their early revisions and implementations.

Moreover, MOF plans to conduct a detailed survey of cetacean habitats in Korea, and will actively review the creation of domestic whale sea shelters. The Ministry will also continue to work together with the aquarium industry to allow more whales exhibited and raised in aquariums to return to their natural habitats.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries CHO, Seung-Hwan asked the public “to keep away from approaching the enclosed training area by using ships or drones during the training period, to help Bibong adapt well to the wild ecosystem and enjoy a long and happy life.” He also added, “(the Ministry) will improve welfare policies for marine animals, and related systems, while continuing to communicate and exchange ideas with the aquarium industry and animal protection groups.”