Urging Early Harvest and Emergency Release of Farmed Fishery Products in Response to High Water Temperature

Inspecting the response status of the cage-culture farm in Yeosu City, Jeollanam Province and encouraging emergency release

  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced on Saturday, July 12 that it visited the offshore cage-culture farm in Dolsan-eup, Yeosu, Jeollanam Province to encourage early harvest and emergency release of farmed fishery products to minimize damage due to high temperatures in summer and cheered aquaculture fishermen.

 As the summer heat wave came right after the short rainy season this year, the high temperature crisis alert “Warning” was issued two weeks earlier than last year. The Ministry has supported the early distribution of response equipment as a preemptive response, and it plans to expand distribution further with a budget of KRW 2 billion secured through the second supplementary budget this year.

 In particular, it focuses on early harvest to minimize damage. Allowing only sufficiently grown stocks to be distributed to the market helps prevent unnecessary mortality and preserve fishermen's income. To this end, MOF helps aquaculture farmers who wish to ship their products by linking them to the consumption events of the ministry and local governments.

 The ministry also emphasizes emergency release in preparation for prolonged high temperatures. Emergency release refers to releasing some fish from the cage during high water temperatures, thereby reducing the requirement for dissolved oxygen in the water. Accordingly, MOF announced that it has simplified the emergency release procedures to promote such, and that it would expand the necessary support such as supplying additional equipment.

 During his visit to the aquaculture farm that day, Director-General Hong Rae-hyung of the Fisheries Policy Office at MOF stressed the importance of actively participating in emergency releases along with continuous shipping efforts, now that water temperatures are high. “The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will also provide comprehensive support to prevent significant damage to fish farmers," he added.

  After Yeosu, MOF plans to continue on-site inspections of major aquaculture farms including Taean in Chungcheongnam-do Province on Sunday, July 13.