Photo @hotpinkdophins
Jeju’s representative marine species, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, has been officially protected. In December last year, the government designated two areas in Jeju—Kimnyeong-ri in Jeju City and Sindo-ri in Seogwipo City—as Marine Protected Areas. This is Jeju's first marine protected area and the country's third case.
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is a unique marine mammal found only in Korea. Around 120 individuals are observed primarily along the coast of Jeju. However, their habitat has been increasingly threatened by uncontrolled tourist ships, marine pollution, and sea development. Many Environmental organizations have long called for measures to protect the dolphins.
Especially the environmental organization Hot Pink Dolphins has been actively involved in protecting Jeju’s marine ecosystem, and since 2016, it has been running a petition campaign to designate the waters off Seogwipo City’s Daejeong-eup as a protected area for the dolphins. A representative of Hot Pink Dolphins said, “The designation is an important step forward for conserving the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Still, to achieve practical protection, more thorough management is necessary”. They emphasized that additional protective measures, such as speed limits for ships and surveillance of illegal tourist vessels, must be followed.
With this designation, various activities that could negatively impact the dolphins, such as dolphin-watching boat tours, wind power development, marine life capture, and seabed sand and stone mining, will be prohibited in the designated areas. However, thorough management and monitoring systems from the government and local authorities are essential to maximize the protection effect.
A Jeju Special Self-Governing Province representative stated, “While development activities are restricted in areas close to the coast, fishing activities will have minimal restrictions.” and added, “We will continue to explore ways to coexist with the local community through joint protection efforts.”
Additionally, there is an ongoing push to designate the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin as the first ecological corporation in Korea. An ecological corporation legally grants legal rights to non-human entities, such as species with significant environmental value. To this end, Jeju has proposed revising the Jeju Special Act and plans to designate the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin as the first ecological corporation in 2025.
To support this effort, ‘the Jeju Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Ecological Corporation Supporters’ was officially launched on the 9th Feburary. The supporters aim to raise awareness about dolphin protection and promote marine conservation activities, reducing plastic waste, and ethical eco-tourism, all while fostering harmonious coexistence between nature and humans.
At the launch ceremony of the supporter group, Governor Oh Young-hoon awarded an honorary citizen certificate to Nam Jong-young, the Director of the Climate Change and Animal Research Institute (former Hankyoreh reporter and environmental journalist), who played a significant role in the return of Je-toli, and called for active support and attention toward the designation of the Jeju Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin as a legal entity. Governor Oh emphasized, “The endangered Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, which has lived in harmony with the haenyeo (female divers) of Jeju, is a precious species that we must protect”. He further stated, “The Jeju government will work hard, along with the supporter group, to pass the amendment to the Jeju Special Law for the designation of the first ecological legal entity in South Korea.
Environmental organizations expect that the designation of the ecological corporation will result in more systematic protection activities for the dolphins. A representative of Hot Pink Dolphins said, “Designating the ecological corporation will recognize the legal rights of the dolphins, presenting a new paradigm that prioritizes ecosystem conservation over human-centered development.”
While the designation of the protected area and the push for ecological corporation designation are essential first steps for dolphin conservation, long-term protection will require the collaboration of the local community and the tourism industry. Residents and the tourism industry have reacted positively to the protection zone designation and are discussing plans to introduce eco-friendly tourism models.
The tourism industry plans to offer new eco-tourism programs within the protected dolphin areas and collaborate with local communities to engage in conservation activities.
These measures are expected to mark a turning point in ensuring the future of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin in Jeju, and effective management and ongoing attention will be critical going forward.
In addition, Hiking Heroes Jeju held a campaign to designate a dolphin protection zone and donated to Hot Pink Dolphins approximately $1,000, which fundraised at our charity bazaar. Hiking Heroes Jeju is pleased to have contributed to the designation of the dolphin protection zone.
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