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Minke whales, which bid tens of thousands to 100 million won per fish, are also called the lottery of the sea. In order to protect the population, distribution is permitted only in the case of death from being caught in a net set for catching other fish. However, it is pointed out that more than 70 minke whales are distributed in this way every year, so more active protection measures are needed.



Correspondent Jo Jae-geun.



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A large whale hanging from a crane on a fishing boat.



This is a minke whale found dead in a net off the coast of Yangyang, Gangwon Province on the 14th of last month.



It was sold for 51.3 million won through an auction as there were no signs of illegal fishing, measuring 4.9 meters in length and 1 ton in weight.



It allowed distribution for one year in the case of a so-called overcrowding, in which a person caught and killed together in a net set for catching other fish.



The number of minke whales caught in this way is 638 for 9 years since 2011, and the average annual number is over 70.



It stays in the warm East China Sea in winter, moves north to the East and West Seas in spring, and gets caught in a net while moving south in winter.



[Dr. Lee Jong-hee / National Institute of Fisheries Science, Whale Research Center: When we investigated the length of minke whales that are caught, the average was 5.1 meters. When estimating their age based on their length, there were mainly young individuals around 2 years old, and 18% of individuals under 1 year old were included.]



Minke whales are traded for more than 100 million won depending on their size and freshness.



An environmental group proposes to put the proceeds from the whale sales into a public fund, saying that it is not clear whether it was really caught by chance.



[Jojogol/Hot Pink Dolphins co-representative: There are many situations of intentional capture disguised as mixed catch.

Instead of giving the sale amount to individuals, it was made in the form of a public fund and used as compensation for fishermen who suffered fishing gear damage…

.] The



Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is developing a fishing net or device to prevent the minke whale from being sacrificed, and is considering designating the minke whale as a marine protected creature in the long term.



(Video coverage: Chun Heo, screen provided by Sokcho Maritime Police Station)