A total of 128 halophilic and marine-associated bacterial strains were isolated from environmental marine samples and fermented seafood products collected in the Sacheon region of South Korea. The aim was to secure region-specific microbial resources and evaluate their potential for industrial use. The isolates belonged to 4 phyla, 15 families, 30 genera, and 61 species. The phylum Bacillota, particularly the family Bacillaceae, was the major taxonomic group (62.5%), comprising 14 genera and 36 species, such as Alkalihalobacillus, Bacillus, Caldibacillus, Cytobacillus, Fictibacillus, Halobacillus, Lysinibacillus, Metabacillus, Neobacillus, Oceanobacillus, Priestia, Rossellomorea, Rummeliibacillus, and Ureibacillus. Members of the phylum Pseudomonadota, primarily the family Alteromonadaceae, accounted for 4.7% of the isolates and included the genera Marinobacter and Microbulbifer. All isolates identified as members of the phylum Pseudomonadota were strong auxin producers or showed high extracellular enzyme activities. Functional characterization showed that 86 strains (67.2%) exhibited hydrolytic activity for at least one enzyme (protease, amylase, or lipase), and 32 strains (25%) produced auxin. The functions of the microbial resources in the Sacheon region are highly diverse. Collectively, the isolated strains show potential for application in managing marine environments, bioprocessing, and the fermented seafood industry, underscoring their value as genetic resources for future biotechnological use in South Korea.

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
    Materials
    Isolation and cultivation of Sacheon-region-specificmicroorganisms
    16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogeneticanalysis
    Analysis of extracellular hydrolytic enzyme production
    Analysis of auxin production
Results and Discussion
    Isolation and growth characteristics of halophilicbacteria
    Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA genesequences
    Analysis of hydrolytic enzyme activities andauxin production
References

• Sondor Ganbat(Department of Food Biotechnology and Research Center for Extremophiles & Marine Microbiology, Silla University, Busan 46958, Korea)
• Joo Young Yang(Department of Food Biotechnology and Research Center for Extremophiles & Marine Microbiology, Silla University, Busan 46958, Korea)
• Dariimaa Ganbat(Department of Food Biotechnology and Research Center for Extremophiles & Marine Microbiology, Silla University, Busan 46958, Korea)
• Sang-Jae Lee(Department of Food Biotechnology and Research Center for Extremophiles & Marine Microbiology, Silla University, Busan 46958, Korea) Corresponding author
• Mi Hwa Park(Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Medical and Life Science, Silla University, Busan 46958, Korea)
• Yong-Jik Lee(Department of Bio-Cosmetics, Seowon University, Cheongju 28674, Korea)