Mass Fish Deaths Due to High Water Temperature... Gyeongnam Province to Provide Restoration Funds to Affected Fish Farms Before Chuseok

Gyeongsangnam-do will provide financial support for damage recovery to fish farms that suffered losses due to high water temperatures this summer before the Chuseok holiday.

According to Gyeongsangnam-do, record-breaking heat waves and the longest tropical nights have caused mass deaths of farmed fish along the southern coast of the province due to high water temperatures this summer.

From August 16, when reports of damage began, to August 28, a total of 17,761,000 fish died at 345 fish farms in four cities and counties across the province.

Fish at a cage aquaculture farm in Geoje City, Gyeongnam, died due to high water temperatures.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Specifically, 13,130,000 fish such as Jopibollak, Bollak, Sung-eo, Maljwichi, and Mackerel died at 249 farms in Tongyeong; 2,311,000 fish including Jopibollak, Chamdom, Bollak, Jwichi species, Nong-eo, Mackerel, Neopchi, Gangdodari, and Abalone at 51 farms in Geoje; 40,000 Neopchi at one farm in Goseong; and 2,280,000 Jopibollak and Neopchi at 44 farms in Namhae.

As a result, property damage has amounted to 21.634 billion won in Tongyeong, 4.625 billion won in Geoje, 120 million won in Goseong, and 3.677 billion won in Namhae, totaling approximately 30.056 billion won in the province so far.

On August 13, a cold water mass in the coastal waters of the province dissipated, causing a rapid rise in sea temperatures, and on August 16, the National Institute of Fisheries Science issued a high water temperature alert.

The institute issues a preliminary advisory when surface sea temperatures reach 25 degrees Celsius, an advisory at 28 degrees, and an alert when temperatures exceed 28 degrees.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (center), is inspecting the extent of damage caused by high water temperatures at a cage aquaculture farm in the province.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

To help stabilize the management of affected fish farmers, Gyeongsangnam-do formed a joint damage investigation team on August 19 and began assessing the damage.

Once the National Institute of Fisheries Science releases its analysis of the cause of the damage, the province plans to establish an initial recovery plan and provide recovery funds before Chuseok.

In addition, the province is consulting with central government agencies regarding special disaster areas and is reviewing ways to ensure prompt and practical compensation for affected fish farmers.

Cho Hyunjun, Director of the Bureau of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "We will do our best to stabilize fish farm management by providing swift recovery support before Chuseok," and added, "We will thoroughly review any additional damage reports to ensure that no affected fish farm is excluded from support."

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