Ganghwa Island invasive sea grass area reduced by over 99%

The Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM) has reported a significant reduction in the spread of invasive sea grass on Ganghwa Island. Through collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Incheon Metropolitan City, and Ganghwa County, the distribution area of the invasive species has been reduced from approximately 38,000 square meters in 2020 to less than 100 square meters, representing a decrease of over 99%.

Since 2018, KOEM has implemented a management system focused on physical removal to minimize impact on the tidal flat ecosystem. A key component of this success has been a community-based management model where local residents, who possess intimate knowledge of the tidal flat terrain, participate directly in removal operations.

At a recent performance sharing session held as part of the 2026 Korean Society of Wetlands regular academic conference, experts discussed achievements in GIS-based spatial analysis, ecosystem recovery, and citizen monitoring. Moving forward, KOEM plans to utilize scientific technologies, such as drones, for monitoring and will continue to work with local communities to prevent re-infestation and protect the ecological value of the Ganghwa tidal flats.