서해안 고창지역 어살어업의 변화과정 고찰

Abstract

The west coast of Korea has many mud flats where traditionally fishing techniques using weirs developed. Various forms of fish weirs have been used in the past, such as swing-style nets on stakes developed in the Gyeonggi and Chungcheong regions, and large V-shaped fish weirs of more than 600 meters across on the long end developed in the Jeolla region. The V-shaped fish weir of the Jeolla region was often called a bamboo weir but, as it disappeared from common use during the 1960s, it is difficult to trace how it was actually constructed or used. This research specifically examines the tradition of fishing with the Jeolla region’s V-shaped fish weir. The discovery of some trading documents, along with evidence from traditional fish-weir workers, has made it possible to reimagine how the V-shaped fish weirs were used. The specific area that is researched is Mandol Village in Simwon-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do. The operation of fish weirs is documented in a historical record from the Joseon Dynasty, and several trading documents from the 19th century confirm its practice. The documents allow us to assess the size of fish weirs, the method of fishing, its operation, and the economics of it during the 19th century. Additional interviews with fish weir workers who worked until the 1960s tell us that there were nine fish weirs installed in Mandol Village and seven groups of fish weir workers operating them. Large fish weirs were run by one leader and eight fish weir workers, and the main fish species caught was croaker. What changed significantly after the 19th century was the ownership of the fish weir. Upon entering the 20th century, fish weir owners exchanged fish weirs through mutual consultation at the beginning of each year, probably through the establishment of a modern fishery system. Fish weir fishing ended in the 1960s due to the decline in croaker catching. Another change was that the fish weir itself changed with the use of nets instead of the bamboo previously used, giving the fish weir its current look and structure. As a result, Mandol Village has become a location where fish weir fishing is still practiced but only recreationally. Although the fish weir in Gochang might be seen as a relic of the past with little economic value, it is an item of fishery heritage, preserving the tradition of the large V-shaped fish weir typically used in the Jeolla region. Through this research, it has been possible to examine the specific construction, operation, and so on, of fish weir fishing in the Jeolla region.