"It's not a conch, it's an endangered trumpet conch. Don't catch it."
The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced today that they will strengthen publicity and guidance as there is a case of collecting and distributing the nationally protected trumpet conch, which is a class 1 endangered wildlife and marine protected species, with other edible conch such as conch (horn conch). 21) said.
The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries emphasized, "Even after publicity and guidance, if it is deemed that the national protected species is caught or distributed on purpose, we will take strict action according to the law."
If you catch, collect, damage, or kill an endangered species 1, you will be punished by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not less than 5 million won and not more than 50 million won.
If the offender is a habitual offender, he will be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 7 years or a fine of not more than 70 million won.
The penalty for capturing, collecting, or damaging marine protected creatures is 'up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won'.
Transplanting, processing, distributing, or storing marine protected organisms without permission is subject to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million won.
The bugle conch was designated as an endangered wildlife in 2012.
The height (shell height) and diameter (shell width) of an adult trumpet conch are around 22cm and 10cm, respectively, making them the largest among conchs inhabiting Korea.
The bugle conch is distributed in Korea, Japan and the Philippines.
It is mainly found at a depth of 10 to 20 m in the coast of Jeju, and is found at a depth of 30 to 50 m in the sea near the southern coast of the island.
The bugle can be used as a trumpet that makes a sound by making a hole in its shell, hence its name.
The domestic sea is not an environment suitable for large numbers of bugle snails, and it is edible and has a beautiful shell pattern.
In particular, if the shell has calcareous substances attached to it, it is difficult to distinguish it from other scallops.
The trumpeter conch is counted as the 'only natural enemy' of starfish, the main culprit of sea desertification, as starfish such as red starfish are 'stock'.
The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries are also planning to carry out publicity activities to prevent the capture and collection of endangered wild and marine protected species such as the southern crab, white-footed perch, sea crab, red-footed dung crab, jujube-eared conch, and black sea conch.
(Photo = provided by the Ministry of Environment, Yonhap News)