Oyster Shell Recycling and Marine Ecosystems: A Comparative Analysis in the Republic of Korea and Japan

Abstract

Baek, E.Y., 2021. Oyster shell recycling and marine ecosystems: A comparative analysis in the Republic of Korea and Japan. In: Lee, J.L.; Suh, K.-S.; Lee, B.; Shin, S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Crisis and Integrated Management for Coastal and Marine Safety. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 114, pp. 350–354. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Oyster shell management is important for a sustainable oyster industry, and if oyster shells are utilized as resources, they will also contribute significantly to the creation of added value. The Republic of Korea and Japan are top producers of oyster shells but treat them very differently as resources. First, all oyster shell management laws in Korea are controlled by the “Waste Control Act,” while in Japan, if waste is recycled into a useful resource, although it is still subject to the “Waste Control Act,” such waste can be treated differently. Second, the cost of recycling oyster shells is different in both countries. In Korea, the cost is the same nationwide, but in Japan, there is no subsidy provided to oyster farmers, and the regional processing costs are different. Finally, industrialization accounts for a majority of fertilizers/animal feed in the Republic of Korea, but oyster shells have been utilized for these in Japan. Thus, the present study aimed to draw policy implications for effective reuse of oyster shells by comparing the related laws, costs, and wasting and recycling technologies between the Republic of Korea and Japan.