해양쓰레기 대응을 위한 한국정부의 종합관리정책 및 이행

Abstract

Korea faces serious marine debris problems due to increasing industrial activities and population growth. Enormous amounts of domestic and industrial waste and other pollutants are discharged into the sea, directly or indirectly. Especially, a great deal of debris enters the sea via river during rainy and stormy season. As a result, Korea has suffered from economic losses, and decreased tourism and recreational activities due to ecological alterations and marine species decline. Since early 1990s, Korean government has tried to solve marine debris problems under an integrated national management plan. Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM), in co-operation with local government and related organizations, tried to solve marine debris problems by several efforts. Monitoring is conducted at about 20 sites to understand marine debris distribution in coastal and marine environment in Korea. Based on the annual nationwide monitoring results, Korean Government has developed National Integrated Management Strategy for Marine Litter. These included applying an advanced ocean cleaning vessel to collect marine debris, encouraging fishermen to bring entangled marine debris back to a designated place, installing adequate disposal systems to treat generated marine debris, and etc.