Chungnam Province has once again proven the excellence of its tidal flats within the region.

The province announced on the 9th that the Seocheon Yubudo Fishing Village and the Taean Makeum-ri Fishing Village were selected in the "Tidal Flat Ecological Village Designation Public Contest" hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Tidal flat ecological villages are designated by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries among villages adjacent to marine (wetland) protected areas that possess outstanding tidal flat ecosystems and scenic landscapes, along with the capacity to conserve and utilize them sustainably.

Following the designation of Seosan Jungwang and Wangsan villages in last year's inaugural contest, the province achieved the remarkable feat of having two more locations selected this year.

The Seocheon Yubudo Fishing Village is an island village located on pristine tidal flats designated as a wetland protection area. It still produces high-quality shellfish such as hard-shelled clams, short-necked clams, and pen shells using traditional methods. Furthermore, it boasts outstanding ecological resources and high conservation value as South Korea's largest migratory bird stopover site.

The Taean Makeum-ri Fishing Village features pristine tidal flats and coastal natural environments harmoniously balanced with traditional agriculture and fisheries. It was highly evaluated for its natural and ecological value as a tidal flat ecological village, driven by a strong sense of community among residents and voluntary tidal flat management efforts.

To vitalize the nationally recognized tidal flat ecological villages, the province plans to enhance their competitiveness as a representative marine ecological hub in South Korea—where resident-led preservation activities for outstanding tidal flat ecosystems coexist with marine ecotourism that maximizes the human and material resources of the fishing villages.

Lim Sung-beom, Head of the Marine Policy Division, stated, "This national designation as tidal flat ecological villages is a proud achievement that recognizes the value of our province's pristine marine assets. Moving forward, we will healthily preserve the ecological vitality of the tidal flats while creating a model where sustainable marine ecotourism can coexist."

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