Sacheon Draws Summer Tourists as Rock Octopus and Fresh Saury Reach Peak Season

Lifting of Octopus and Saury Fishing Bans Spurs
Anticipation for Growth in Fishing and Culinary Tourism

Regional Markets Including Seafood and Traditional Markets Expected to Benefit

As the representative summer seafood, rock octopus and fresh saury are now in season, Sacheon City is gaining attention as a fishing and gourmet tourist destination.

Following the lifting of the rock octopus fishing ban on July 8, and the saury fishing ban on July 15, the waters off Samcheonpo and the Samcheonpo Port area have seen a steady influx of anglers and tourists.

According to Sacheon City, approximately 650 fishing boats set sail on the first day the rock octopus fishing ban was lifted, with more than 1,900 anglers visiting Samcheonpo.

[Photo by Sacheon City] As the season arrives for summer's representative seafood, octopus and fresh anchovy, Sacheon City is gaining attention as a fishing and gourmet tourism destination. Samcheonpo octopus

The waters near Samcheonpo Bridge are bustling with anglers from all over the country, and the rock octopus catch and auction volume have increased compared to the same period last year, signaling a bountiful season.

Rock octopus is being traded at the fishery cooperative auction house and the local seafood market from early morning, and the increase in octopus fishing tourists is having a revitalizing effect on the regional commercial sector.

With the lifting of the saury fishing ban, commercial fishing for fresh saury has also begun in earnest throughout the Samcheonpo Port and Sacheon Bay areas from July 16. Saury is a staple summer seafood consumed as sashimi, in spicy salads, grilled, and in various other dishes, and is renowned for its rich fatty acids.

Samcheonpo's rock octopus and fresh saury, harvested from pristine waters, are considered flagship seafood products of Sacheon. Recently, the rise in tourists seeking both octopus fishing and fresh saury is fostering high expectations for the activation of longer-stay tourism.

Tourism demand is also forecast to rise through connections with local attractions such as the Sacheon Sea Cable Car, Aramaru Aquarium, Yonggung Fish Market, and Samcheonpo Traditional Market. This is expected to have a positive ripple effect on the regional economy, particularly for lodging businesses, restaurants, and traditional markets.

In preparation for increased fishing activity and tourism during the summer, the city is strengthening the promotion of safety guidelines, including vessel safety inspections and life jacket use. Continuous on-site guidance and inspections are also planned to maintain marine order and eradicate illegal fishing.

Park Dongsik, Mayor of Sacheon, stated, "Octopus and saury are the representative seafood of Sacheon during the summer," adding, "We will do our best in safety management and the protection of marine resources so that tourists can safely enjoy the culinary delights and attractions of Sacheon's pristine sea."

Rock octopus and fresh saury, specialties nurtured by clean waters, are now in season. Sacheon's summer is becoming even more vibrant as the sea brings gifts that simultaneously support local cuisine, tourism, and the regional economy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.