By Park Jun-shik
Korea Times Intern
Vacationers will be able to enjoy sea bathing free from fears of jellyfish along the coast of Busan, Korea's largest port city, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Haeundae District Office released 280,000 filefish into the waters of Haeundae and Songjeong beaches to destroy stinging jellyfish Tuesday.
The 5-centimeter-long fry were brought from a hatchery on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province.
"We have discharged filefish fry into the waters for the third consecutive year, as the research outcome of the National Fisheries Research & Development Institute found that the filefish is a natural predator of jellyfish," said a Haeundae District official.
Thanks to the predator, the victims of jellyfish stings decreased to 100, from 160 in 2007 and 600 in 2006, according to Busan City statistics. The jellyfish attacks are most frequent in July and August.
"The filefish have become an important income source for the regional fishermen, as well as killing the poisonous marine life," the official said.
Filefish is a popular snack food with beer drinking in Korea. It is typically dried and made into a sweet and salty jerky, which is then roasted before eating.
Meanwhile, the neighboring Suyeong District Office released 89,000 filefish fry into the waters off nearby Gwangalli Beach July 3.