(하도리) Hado-ri is a wintering place for endangered migratory birds, and the area is now covered with green algae and waste. Joseph Kim reports.

[slug]
Migratory bird habitat in Hado-ri, Gujwa-eup

The winter migratory birds' resting place is covered with green laver.

On the rotting plant, the birds are searching for food.

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Green laver, marine debris pile up

The greenish brown algae spreads to and occupies the water. The plant is dried white on the rocks.

Marine debris of plastic bottles and abandoned fishing gear float nearby.

The green seaweed drifted to this place this summer and hasn't been removed..

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Residents complain of odors, trash

As marine structures impede the flow of water, ocean vegetation and trash gather here.

Area residents are complaining about the bad odor.

INTERVIEW
Area resident
The floating algae smells terribly. We told people not to litter, but they did anyway, so we built a fence to keep them out.
<인터뷰 : 인근 주민>
"(파래가) 물 위에 막 뜨고, 냄새도 나고. 사람들이 쓰레기 버리지 말라고 해도 듣지 않아서 (철조망으로 입구를) 막기도 했어요."

This year's winter migration season is coming.

Meanwhile, experts worry that trash will threaten the birds.

INTERVIEW
Gang Chang-wan / President, Korean Association for BIrd Protection
The rotting plants are polluting the water. All of the plastic and styrofoam a bird eats accumulates in its body, which can lead to death. We need to clean up the environment.
<인터뷰 : 강창완 / 한국조류보호협회 제주도지회장>
"썩어가는 파래는 물을 오염시키고요. 플라스틱이나 스티로폼 등은 체내에 축적되다보면 소화가 안 돼서 죽을 수도 있기 때문에 치워서 깨끗한 환경을 조성해줘야 합니다."

However, authorities don't care about the birds.

Recording
Gujwa-eup representative
We're cleaning up the shoreline, but we haven’t yet begun collecting trash in the migratory bird habitat.
<싱크 : 구좌읍 관계자>
"수거는 안하고 있습니다. 해안가 청소는 하고 있지만 그쪽 (철새도래지)까지는 아직…."

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Park Byeong-joon

The resting place for winter birds and people is becoming more polluted each day with rotting ocean vegetation and marine trash.

Joseph Kim, KCTV