Jeju is known for its sea bream, or okdom (옥돔). Although widely caught in local waters, nobody knows where they spawn, but new research is underway to find that out. Todd Thacker Reports
[SLUG]
Wimi Port in Namwon-eup, Seogwipo

Researchers from the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute board a boat at Wimi Port in Namwon-eup, Seogwipo. With tools in hand, they are headed about 7 kilometers out to sea.

Once they arrive, they drop their nets into the water.
In time, the nets are pulled back up filled with various kinds of sea creatures, including fish and plankton.

[Slug]
Search for spawning grounds underway in 10 areas

This is all part of the search for the spawning grounds of sea bream or okdom (옥돔)… currently underway at 10 fishing areas that stretch between Namwon (남원) and Pyoseon (표선). The research is being conducted in tandem with their breeding season, which is usually during the months of September and October.

[INTERVIEW]
Lee Seung-jong / NFRDI Subtropical Fisheries Research Center
We sample and examine the DNA from sea bream spawn and larvae. In this way ,we try to identify the frequency of sightings in different areas to determine the sea bream’s main spawning grounds.
< 이승종 / 국립수산과학원 아열대수산연구센터 연구사 >
DNA 분자 동정 방법으로 옥돔 어란과 자치어만을 추출하게 됩니다. 그래서 정점 내에 옥돔 어란과 자치어가 얼마나 출현했는지 파악해서 ///
옥돔 주산란장을 조사하게 되는 것입니다.

[Camera]
Kim Yong-min

The sea bream is one of the fish species associated with Jeju, but it is still unclear where they breed.

Recently, though, concerns have been raised about the gradual decrease of sea bream caught in Jeju waters. In the 1990s, fishermen caught an average two thousand tons of sea bream a year.

But that number has decreased to an average one-thousand three-hundred since 2000.

[INTERVIEW]
Lee Seung-jong / NFRDI Subtropical Fisheries Research Center
The aim is to provide information that can be used to create policies for the protection of sea bream spawning grounds and create regulations to prohibit poaching.
< 이승종 / 국립수산과학원 아열대수산연구센터 연구사 >
옥돔 자원을 관리하는데 산란장 보호나 포획금지 규정을 만드는 등 제도적인 자료를 만드는데 적극 활용할 계획입니다.

Poaching has led to a noticeable decrease in the number of young sea bream.

[Reporter]
Todd Thacker

By the end of the month, research into the matter will wrap up and those results will determine the next steps to prevent further decline in the number of sea bream in the waters off Jeju.

Todd Thacker, KCTV.