New Fertilizer Source

[Anchor Lead]

Authorities strive to reduce the number of fish in streams and lakes if they disrupt the ecology. These kinds of fish, which were not popular for human consumption, were once just discarded. However, a new technology has been developed to turn them into fertilizer.

[Pkg]

A fishnet pulled up from the water is filled with skygagers and piscivorous chubs. These are carnivorous fish that disrupt the ecosystem, along with non-native species such as bluegill or bass. They account for over 80 percent of the fish inhabiting this lake, but they have little monetary value even when caught.

[Soundbite] Choi Yoon-seob(Fisherman) : "It was a headache. These fish are predators. Skygagers were as much a nuisance as bass."

As the fish are not used for human consumption, the government was forced to purchase them only to throw them away. A new technology has been developed to transform these fish into organic fertilizer. The fish are finely minced and mixed with nutrients to produce organic fertilizer. Compared to conventional products, it has advantageous properties in terms of both odor and decay.

[Soundbite] Park Jae-chung(Korea Water Resources Corp.) : "It's nice to help keep the ecosystem in balance. The farmers can use the high-nutrient fertilizer for their crops, while the fishermen secure a new income source."

The idea of converting unwanted fish species into fertilizer has turned out to be a useful solution for both fishermen and farmers.