A minke whale was accidentally caught off the coast of Goseong, Gangwon Province, and sold for over $40 thousand at an auction.
According to the Sokcho Coast Guard on Sunday, at approximately 6:40 AM, a 6.67-ton gillnet fishing vessel inadvertently caught the whale while operating about 5 kilometers east of Daejin Port in Goseong County.
After consulting with the Whale Research Center at the National Institute of Fisheries Science, the whale was confirmed to be a minke whale.
The captured minke whale measured about 5.2 meters (17 feet) in length, 2.41 meters (8 feet) in circumference, and weighed approximately 1,5 tons (3,300 pounds). No evidence of illegal capture methods, such as harpoon wounds, was found on the whale.
The minke whale was auctioned off for 60 million won (approximately $43 thousand).
Minke whales are not classified as protected marine species in South Korea, making their sale legal.
A Coast Guard spokesperson urged the public to report any dead whales found along the coast or at sea while fishing. They also emphasized that authorities would strictly enforce laws against illegal whale hunting.
