[Anchor]

When people think of squid, they usually associate it with the East Coast. However, in recent years, schools of squid have been flocking to the waters off Gunsan, turning the West Coast into a new hotspot.

Reporter Jung Sang-won from JTV has the story.

[Reporter]

Fresh squid freshly caught from the West Coast are piled high.

Middlemen exchange rapid hand signals to secure the best catch.

On this day alone, 46 tons of squid were brought to the fish market.

Within an hour of the auction, all 12,000 boxes were sold and shipped to markets, supermarkets, and restaurants nationwide.

Until a few years ago, squid was a rare sight in Gunsan, but it has now firmly established itself as a major source of income.

[Yang Eui-deuk / Squid Boat Owner : A lot started coming in from last year, and they are still coming in a lot now. Sometimes (the boat) is packed with squid, and other times there's a bit less, but most of the time they bring back a large haul.]

Last year, the volume of squid auctioned at the Gunsan Fisheries Cooperative reached 1,904 tons, more than triple the amount from two years ago, and the volume through the end of July this year is even higher than the same period last year.

The recent emergence of the West Coast as a prime squid fishing ground is analyzed to be the result of climate change, which has raised water temperatures and altered the marine food chain.

While it remains uncertain how long the squid abundance in the West Coast will last, it is playing a pivotal role in boosting fishermen's income during the closed season.

[Jung Hyun-yong / Auction Team Leader, Bieunghang Port Market : Most species have their closed seasons in June and July. During a time when fishermen previously struggled to generate income, squid has been effectively filling that gap over these three months of July, August, and September.]

As squid, once the pride of the East Coast, enjoys a bountiful harvest in the West Coast as well, it is helping to increase the incomes of local fishermen.

(Video Reporter: Lee Jin-kang, JTV / CG: Won So-jung, JTV)