A sea turtle was found dead on July 29 at Tongyeong Beach, Gyeongnam. The Hawksbill Turtle, an internationally endangered species. The snout is pointed like a hawk's beak. The turtle lived in an aquarium for display and was released a month ago in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. At the time of discovery, the turtle was wound with a rope and no other trauma. The National Institute of Marine Biological Resources commissioned an autopsy at the National Institute of Ecology to find out why the Hawksbill Turtle died. I decided to find out if the rope strangled and drowned, or if there was another cause. In the tortoise, some of the rubber pipes for taps came out. On the outside was a letter indicating that the country of manufacture was Korea. Several pieces of plastic were found inside the cut rubber tube. Inside the tortoise were not only these, but also small plastic packaging containing pills. An autopsy researcher, Lee Hye-rim, a veterinarian at the National Institute of Ecology, said that eating too much lung vinyl or plastic can cause intestinal obstruction, causing the tortoise to die. He also said that the intestine could cause peritonitis. A red sea turtle that was discharged from Jungmun Beach in Jeju Island on August 29 last year was found dead only 11 days later on the coast of Busan Gijang-gun. A large amount of plastic and plastic trash came out of the tortoise cage. The plastic waste floating in the sea was littered by turtles. This red sea turtle also left the aquarium and returned to nature, but it wasn't safe under the sea. It was a piece of plastic that I thought was fed and died in just 11 days without being able to adjust to the ocean.
An average of 20 sea turtle mortalities are found annually in the East Sea, South Sea, and West Sea around Korea. The National Institute of Marine Biology and Resources has been commissioned by the National Institute of Ecology since last year to autopsy sea turtle mortality. The purpose is to identify the cause of death, and there is also a need to analyze the intestinal organic matter of sea turtles, an internationally endangered species. To obtain parasites, food sources, marine debris and microbial samples for research. 42 sea turtles were autopsied for two years. About half of these plastic wastes were found in 20 animals, and eight were found to be plastic. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries conducts marine debris surveys every five years, establishing a basic marine debris management plan. As of 2018, the production volume is 145,000 tons. Among them, grass and trees account for 60,000 tons, and plastic waste accounts for 84% of the remaining 85,000 tons. The rest is glass bottles, metals, styrofoams, etc. Marine debris is a lot of things that fishermen and vacationers have thrown into the sea and flowed through rivers during heavy rains on land. Last year, 96,000 tons of marine debris was collected. It is about 66% of the amount generated. The rest drift around the sea, the coast and the islands. Garbage collection is divided between the government and local governments. The government removes 111 garbage ports across the country with fishing boats and 60 garbage ports with cargo such as coal and crude oil. Local governments handle garbage left on the beaches, coasts and beaches.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced measures to reduce marine plastic waste in May. First, the goal is to reduce 30% by 2022. By 2030, it will reduce by 50%. The focus was on preventing fishermen from throwing away fishing gear. The Ministry of Environment has decided to introduce the empty bottle deposit system applied to soju or beer bottles to waste fishing equipment and is conducting research on services. The introduction of the real-name fishing system is also under consideration. It also decided to build six dedicated ships to collect waste on the island. Garbage collection vessels will be on site around 22 years. The plastic waste that destroys the ocean is not only a threat to marine life. Microplastics that have been decomposed into seawater for many years eventually enter the human body through seafood, causing their lives to be harmed. Government efforts are not enough to keep the oceans safe. Voluntary participation of citizens is necessary. Do not dispose of waste plastics and plastics with awareness of the hazards. Must be discharged or returned separately. That's what prevents sea turtles from killing them and protects marine ecosystems and humans.