Protecting Local Fishermen... Pohang City Makes All-out Efforts to Minimize High Water Temperature Damage in Aquaculture Farms

821 Tons of Liquid Oxygen, 797 Circulation Pumps, 3,750 Blocks of Ice... Emergency Support for Aquaculture Farms


Mayor Lee Kangduk Visits High-Temperature Damaged Fish Farms for On-Site Inspection and to Hear Difficulties

Pohang City in North Gyeongsang Province is making every effort to minimize damage to fish farmers and establish support measures as a high-temperature warning continues due to the ongoing heatwave, resulting in a series of damages to local aquaculture farms.

On the 22nd, Lee Gangdeok, mayor of Pohang, visited the aquaculture farm in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, where damage to farmed fish occurred due to high water temperatures, to encourage the affected fishermen and inspect the high-temperature response situation.

On the 22nd, Mayor Lee Kangdeok of Pohang visited an aquaculture farm in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, where damage to farmed fish has occurred due to high water temperatures, to encourage the affected fish farmers and check the response status to the high temperatures.

He also held a meeting with members of the aquaculture association and other fishermen to gather their opinions and discuss support measures to minimize the damage.

In the Pohang area, a total of 93 aquaculture farms are currently cultivating 13.17 million fish, including flatfish and olive flounder.

In particular, there are 40 land-based seawater aquaculture farms in Pohang, which are especially vulnerable to high temperatures. As of the 22nd, 1.19 million fish have died in 27 farms due to high-temperature damage.

The entire coastal area of North Gyeongsang Province has been under a high-temperature warning since the 12th, and the surface water temperature along the coast of Pohang soared to as high as 29.8°C at one point.

Even before the high-temperature warning was issued, the city organized an on-site response team to provide field guidance on farm management, and urgently supplied 821 tons of liquid oxygen, 797 circulation pumps, and 3,750 blocks of ice (each block weighing 135 kg) to fish farms, making every effort to prevent damage. However, these measures have proven insufficient in the face of the boiling sea.

The city explained that flatfish, which account for 82% of all farmed fish, are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures, so early shipment was encouraged. However, due to the economic downturn, the shipment volume was low, resulting in greater losses.

During the meeting, fishermen requested additional support such as more liquid oxygen and response equipment to prevent further damage, and asked for prompt payment of insurance and disaster relief funds.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok said, "We are doing our best to reduce the damage caused by high temperatures, but I am very sorry that damage has still occurred. We will take swift administrative action as needed to prevent further damage and support the livelihoods of aquaculture farmers."

Pohang City has established a rapid damage reporting system, including opening group chat rooms for fishery organizations to share real-time updates, and has formed a joint damage investigation team to conduct prompt and accurate on-site damage assessments.

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