The spring blue crab catch in the Yeonpyeong fishing grounds off Incheon has increased by more than 2.3 times compared to last year.

According to Ongjin-gun, Incheon, the blue crab catch in Yeonpyeongdo from April to June this year reached 277,000 kg, a 2.3-fold increase from the 117,000 kg recorded during the same period last year.

This is analyzed as a base effect, as the catch during the spring of last year dropped significantly due to factors such as low water temperatures.

Last year's spring catch was the lowest in 17 years, since the 54,000 kg recorded in 2008.

While the revenue from this year's spring catch reached 4.403 billion won, an increase of 1.45 billion won from the same period last year, it remains 1.3 billion to 3.2 billion won lower than the figures from the past three years.

Fishermen in Yeonpyeongdo expressed that despite the recovery in catch volume, actual income remains low due to the burden of rising costs, including high oil prices.

In particular, they added, "Initially, due to high oil prices caused by the aftermath of the Middle East war, we were at a level where we would lose money if we went out to fish," and "Although blue crabs started to be caught little by little recently, the closed season began on the 1st of this month, so we cannot go out for operations."

As the poor blue crab harvest has continued for several years, fishermen have consistently requested the government to adjust the closed season for the Yeonpyeong fishing grounds.

However, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has not accepted these requests, citing fairness with other regions.

Fishing in the Yeonpyeong grounds is permitted only from April to June and from September to November to protect spawning blue crabs.

(Photo: Yonhap News)