The price of whale meat, eaten by Koreans residing along the eastern coastal area, is surging due to a shortage following tighter rules on the distribution and consumption of whale meat.

Skyrocketing cost may tempt fishermen into more active whale hunting, with one whale trading at approx. $98,000. According to the Ulsan Coast Guard and environmental civic groups very recently, it has become more difficult to eat whale meat in the industrial city of Ulsan as the value of whale meat increased dramatically since January 1 when the government introduced a "distribution certificate’’ for all whale meat sold and consumed in the country. Under the system, whales accidently caught in fishing nets or found dead on the waters are allowed to be consumed and given the permissible certificate by the Coast Guard. Illegally hunted whales cannot be certified and those dealing with the uncertified meat are subject to prosecution. This is expected to encourage more fishermen to engage in illegal poaching of the endangered species.

The price of whale meat has nearly doubled over the past year in Ulsan, in reality, up to 80 percent of whales consumed every year are illegally hunted and it’s impossible to tally how many whales are poached each year. A minke whale was caught in a fishing net in waters off Pohang days ago and sold at $87,000, it’s a huge concern higher prices could prompt more fishermen to illegally hunt whales and the police should do more to check whether distributed whale meat is legal or not along with cracking down on whale poaching.

Residents along the East Coast are also looking to discovering dead whales on the beach or caught in fishing nets to financially gain from the find. It is reported that about 100 whales that are caught in nets or found dead are distributed legally, but more than 300 whales are being consumed at about 200 whale meat restaurants across the nation.

Residents along the East Coast are also looking to discovering dead whales on the beach or caught in fishing nets to financially gain from the find. It is reported that about 100 whales that are caught in nets or found dead are distributed legally, but more than 300 whales are being consumed at about 200 whale meat restaurants across the nation.