▲ A fisherman collects filefish that died from high water temperatures at a net-pen fish farm off the coast of Sanyang-eup, Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, on July 26.
Damage to farmed fish from high water temperatures along the south coast of Gyeongsangnam-do has snowballed this summer, with the death toll surpassing 5 million fish.
According to Gyeongsangnam-do today (September 1), an additional 521,000 farmed fish, 120,000 abalone, and 98 strings of farmed sea squirts (rope strings where sea squirts grow submerged in the seawater) died the previous day.
This marks the first reported case of abalone dying due to high water temperatures this summer.
Since late July, the cumulative summer death toll from high water temperatures along the south coast of Gyeongnam has reached 5.212 million farmed fish, 120,000 abalone, and 1,296 strings of sea squirts.
Property damage has reached 11.947 billion won.
Mortality and damage have been reported at 224 marine cage and land-based fish farms across four cities and counties, including Namhae-gun, Hadong-gun, Tongyeong, and Geoje.
This year's damage from high water temperatures along the south coast of Gyeongnam has far exceeded last year's death toll (3.838 million fish) and property damage (3.73 billion won).
The National Institute of Fisheries Science issues a high water temperature advisory when seawater temperatures reach 28°C (82°F), and a high water temperature warning when 28°C (82°F) temperatures persist for three days or longer.
Currently, all coastal waters along the south coast of Gyeongnam are under high water temperature warnings.
Based on the high water temperature flash report from the previous day, water temperatures ranged from 27.7 to 29.6°C (82 to 85°F) in the Sacheonman and Gangjinman sea areas, and from 28.0 to 29.0°C (82 to 84°F) in the Jinhaeman sea area.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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