The Honam National Institute of Biological Resources (HNIBR) of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has identified two unrecorded alien species¹⁾ in Korea. The discovery was made through taxonomic research conducted between 2024 and 2025 on invertebrates attached to wastes washed ashore in island and coastal areas.

Established to conserve biodiversity in coastal and island regions and strengthen Korea’s biological sovereignty, HNIBR carried out the research to examine invertebrate newly introduced via marine debris and to assess their potential entry pathways and spread.

The research confirmed two alien fouling invertebrates, Megabalanus coccopoma (a barnacle) and Aspidelectra bihamata, (a bryozoan), which were identified for the first time in Korea. To date, no harmful ecological effects have been observed.

Megabalanus coccopoma was discovered in August 2024 on a discarded rubber slipper collected from Hupo Beach, Chujado Island in the Jeju Strait. This tropical barnacle species attaches to ship hulls and floating objects and spreads worldwide.

Aspidelectra bihamata was found in May 2025 on abandoned fishing gear at Geomsan Port, Jeungdo Island in Shinan. Previously reported only in the East China Sea, its detection in Korea implies the possibility of introduction and settlement in Korea.

HNIBR plans to conduct further research on the distribution and genetics of these species to clarify the pathways of alien species introduced through marine debris. The findings will be used as baseline data for developing biodiversity conservation policies. The results of this research were presented at the academic conference of the Korean Society of Oceanography in May and the Korean Society of Systematic Zoology in July.