Jeju’s Haenyeo Fisheries System: A GIAHS treasure spotlighted in the documentary The Last of the Sea Women

Rome — The Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System, one of South Korea’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is the focus of the 2024 documentary The Last of the Sea Women. Directed by Sue Kim, the film offers a powerful and moving exploration of the haenyeo — Jeju Island’s legendary women divers — whose unique and sustainable way of life is both a cultural and ecological treasure.

The documentary showcases the extraordinary practices of the haenyeo, who free-dive without oxygen tanks to gather seafood such as abalone, seaweed, and sea urchins, adhering to self-imposed rules that ensure the preservation of the marine ecosystem. Their tradition, which has sustained Jeju’s communities for centuries, reflects a profound harmony between humans and nature. Yet, the film also highlights the fragility of this heritage. Most haenyeo are now over 60 years old, with few younger women willing to continue the challenging work, while climate change, pollution, and industrial overfishing threaten the seas they rely on.

Sue Kim’s The Last of the Sea Women, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and won the NETPAC Prize, combines stunning underwater cinematography with emotional storytelling, giving voice to these courageous women. While it celebrates their resilience and solidarity, the film also serves as a call to action, drawing attention to the urgent need to protect both the haenyeo’s tradition and the marine ecosystems they depend on.

The Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System is one of seven GIAHS-designated sites in South Korea, alongside others such as the Jeju Batdam Agricultural System, which uses volcanic stone walls to protect crops, and the Traditional Hadong Tea Agrosystem, known for its eco-friendly tea cultivation. Together, these systems exemplify Korea’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage while promoting environmental sustainability.

In addition to its GIAHS designation, the haenyeo tradition was inscribed in 2016 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its focus on sustainability and its cultural significance. However, despite these accolades, the haenyeo themselves warn that their tradition is “dying out,” alongside the oceans they depend on, increasingly impacted by pollution and the global climate crisis.

About GIAHS

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program, established by the FAO in 2002, recognizes 89 unique agricultural systems across 28 countries that integrate traditional knowledge, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable practices. South Korea is home to seven GIAHS-designated systems, including:

1. Traditional Gudeuljang Irrigated Rice Terraces in Cheongsando
2. Jeju Batdam Agricultural system
3. Traditional Hadong Tea Agrosystem in Hwagae-myeon
4. Geumsan Traditional Ginseng Agricultural System
5. Damyang Bamboo Field Agriculture System
6. The Sonteul (hand net) Fishery System for gathering Marsh Clam in Seomjingang River
7. Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

These systems serve as living examples of how traditional practices can address modern challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security, offering invaluable lessons for sustainable agriculture and resource management worldwide.