“Choking and gasping for breath, dying”... Thousands of fish die in mass stranding off Masan coast

A school of fish gathered near the surface to breathe. / Photo by Jonggu Song jgsong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters reporters Song Jong-gu and Lee Se-ryeong] The sea over a 2 to 3 km stretch from the Kim Ju-yeol Martyr Memorial Park in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, to the Masan Marine Nuri Park area is filled with dead fish.

On the morning of the 1st, citizens who came out for exercise stopped on their way and looked sadly at the fish struggling for their last breath.

The fish rose close to the surface, gasped for a while, then flipped over and sank underwater.

The number of dead fish sinking was countless, and the shoreline was also filled with carcasses.

Citizens said in unison, "What is happening underwater that makes the fish blow bubbles trying to breathe like that and die?" and "It feels like they are begging to be saved, which breaks my heart."

A fisherman clicked his tongue and said, "Fish that rise to the surface due to lack of oxygen underwater eventually die."

Construction site near the fish mass mortality site. / Photo by Jonggu Song jgsong@

It is known that construction related to the Masan Marine New City development is underway in the nearby sea where the mass fish deaths are occurring.

Changwon City, the Coast Guard, and other relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the mass fish deaths, including red tide and discharge of harmful marine substances.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.