"Large Jellyfish Priced at 30,000 Won Each" ... Pohang City Launches 'Purchase Operation' to Reduce Fishing Damage

Nomura's jellyfish (Source: National Institute of Fisheries Science)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk, announced on the 4th that it has secured an additional 70 million KRW in national funds to reduce fishing damage caused by the recent massive appearance of jellyfish and will start a jellyfish purchase project from September.

This purchase project is carried out by the Pohang City Federation of the Korea Fisheries Management Association under the commission of Pohang City. From Monday to Friday every week, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., jellyfish caught by fishermen licensed for set net, offshore, coastal, and designated fishing are purchased at six designated ports and harbors. The purchase project period lasts until the jellyfish warning is lifted or the project budget is exhausted.

The purchase locations are six sites: Yangpo Port, Guryongpo Port, Homigot Port, Balsan 1-ri Port, Yeongilman Port Fishing Wharf, and Igari Port. The purchase price is 300 KRW per kilogram (based on wet weight).

On August 7th, a Nomura’s jellyfish warning was issued in the Pohang area. Recently, the warning has expanded to Gangwon Province, indicating an increase in jellyfish appearances. Nomura’s jellyfish is a large jellyfish that can grow up to 100 kg, often entering fishing nets during operations, causing net damage, making it difficult to catch other fish, and reducing product value, thus causing damage to fishermen.

Jung Jong-young, Director of Fisheries Promotion Division of Pohang City, explained, "Due to the large appearance of Nomura’s jellyfish this year causing significant fishing damage, we secured national funds to carry out the purchase project to alleviate the situation even slightly."

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