CHANGWON — Farmed marine life continues to die daily across South Gyeongsang Province's southern coast as high water temperature warnings remain in place into September, with cumulative property damage climbing to 14.34 billion won (about $10.3 million).
A total of 5.737 million farmed fish, 440,000 abalone and 1,538 strings of sea squirts have died from high water temperatures that began in late July, the provincial government said on the 3rd. On the 2nd alone, another 150,000 farmed fish — including mullet, Korean rockfish and olive flounder — and 169 strings of sea squirts were lost.
Damage has been confirmed in four municipalities: Namhae County, Hadong County, Tongyeong and Geoje. Deaths occurred at 264 sites, including offshore net cages and land-based farms. Farmed fish account for the largest share of the losses, but the damage is spreading to abalone and sea squirts.
Water temperatures along the southern coast began falling in September. The decline has been slow, however, and high water temperature warnings remain in effect across the entire southern coast of the province. Such warnings are issued when water temperatures stay at or above 28 degrees Celsius. Last year, high water temperature advisories along the province's southern coast lasted 69 days, from early July through late September.
The provincial government said high water temperature conditions are persisting even as temperatures fall, leaving the possibility of further deaths, and urged fish farmers to take care in managing their operations.
"Water temperatures have been gradually declining since the start of September, but the pace of the decline is slow," a provincial official said. "Until the high water temperature advisory is lifted, farmers need to pay particular attention to managing their farms so that no further damage occurs to farmed organisms."
