갯벌어장 이용방식의 변화와 어촌공동체의 적응

Changes in Mudflat Use and Their Application to Fishing Village Communities

지난 수십 년 동안 국토개발, 농지조성, 산업단지 등 다양한 개발논리로 갯벌을 매립하고 간척해 왔다. 이에 대해 환경단체들은 갯벌은 해양생물의 서식지, 도요 물떼새 등 철새 휴식처, 희귀생물 서식지 등 환경논리로 대응해왔다 이러한 문제의식은 우리 갯벌의 특수성인 주민들의 생활과 생산의 기능을 간과하고 있다. 람사르협악의 기준인 습지 기준인 간조시 6m 이내 연안 습지는 갯벌에 의존하는 어민들에게는 매우 특별한 공간이다. 대부분의 어민들은 이곳에서 김, 바지락, 굴 등 양식어업과 낙지, 숭어, 새우 등을 잡고 있다. 뿐만 아니라 갯벌을 막아 염전을 만들어 천일염을 생산하기도 한다. 특히 어촌마을 인근 갯벌들은 마을공동어장으로 지정되어 마을의 경제적 기반이 되고 있다 경제력을 갖지 못한 노인, 여성들은 갯벌 등 마을어장에서 생계를 해결하는 사회보장의 역할을 하기도 한다. 이렇게 갯벌은 공익적 기능부터 사회 약자들의 생활기반과 마을공동체 유지의 공간이 되고 있다 이러한 특징이 우리 갯벌과 유럽 등 외국의 갯벌과 차이다 갯벌이 지속되어야 하는 것은 단순히 해양생태계의 유지나 공익적은 측면만 아니라 어촌마을의 유지와 지속차원에서도 매우 중요하다.

Tidal flats have been filled in or reclaimed over the past few decades in connection with projects for development of national land and formation of farming areas or industrial complexes. Environmentalists have voiced their opposition to such projects, saying that tidal flats are precious habitats for marine wildlife and migratory birds. They appear to pay no attention to the fact that tidal flats are sources of income for fishing households. Under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, coastal wetlands are areas with water including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters. These areas are very important for fishing households. Most of them are engaged in the work of catching common octopuses, mullets and shrimps using long-line fishing or fixed shore net fishing methods or of growing green lavers, short-necked clams and oysters. Tidal flats are also places where people make sun-dried salt. Fishing villages depend on their nearby tidal flats as their common income resource. Elderly people and women not able to work on fishing boats add to their household income by working on tidal flats. Thus, tidal flats should be preserved as important income sources for fishing villages, in addition to their significance for conservation of marine ecological systems. Concerning how tidal flat fishing grounds are owned, they are Jointly, alternately or privately owned. Under joint ownership, which is typical for a fishing community, villages take part in joint production and allocation of profit. Alternate ownership refers to a method of allocating resources equally by which groups of villagers take turns to use specific areas on an annual basis. Under private ownership, individual households are allowed to hold certain areas for an extended period of time in accordance with agreements made among villagers. This ownership is granted to those who have invested private capital and efforts for formation of a specific fishing ground. Private or individualized ownership is the current trend amid a decrease in the number of those engaged in fishing and the need for capital investment. In some cases in which a village attempts to regain its joint ownership of a fishing ground from an individual, consideration is given to such an individual’s equity stake in the joint ownership based on the effort and capital poured in by him/her. There may be many other forms of owning fishing grounds near villages. Villagers agree to new rules concerning the use of resources when there is a new tidal flat formed near their villages.