[현장] “빨리 건져내, 고수온에 다 죽어” 양식어 구하기 긴급방류 작전

A massive emergency discharge operation was conducted in a fish farm on April 14th, targeting yellowtail (young fish) that were dying due to high water temperatures. The farm, located in Annapyeong Village, Annapyeong-eup, Yeonggi County, had a surface temperature of 28.5 degrees Celsius and daily maximum temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius.

Kim Ghi-ho, a 66-year-old fisherman who employs 4 workers, pointed to the blue-colored containers scattered throughout the farm, which were filled with the dying fish. He explained that the situation had improved, and they were trying to get rid of the contaminated fish to prevent secondary pollution. Kim instructed his workers to pull the nets towards the south and then narrow the nets to gather the dying fish into a large container, which was then weighed and transported to the sea.

The entire discharge process took about 1 hour and 20 minutes, despite the workers feeling dizzy from the heat and high water temperatures. Kim discharged 80,000 yellowtail fish during this operation. The compensation rate for yellowtail is 700 won per fish, with a total limit of 50 million won. The discharge has two main benefits: it reduces the risk of fish dying due to high temperatures and helps recover coastal aquatic resources.

Experts from the Marine Fisheries Policy say that higher temperatures decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, stressing the fish and causing them to die. They also warn that failing to manage high temperatures could lead to further fish deaths and secondary pollution. Kim expressed relief after the discharge and voiced concern over the difficulties faced by fish populations in a warming ocean.

Annapyeong County has conducted emergency discharges for 11 fish populations in 2022, compared to 3 last year, and anticipates discharging 820,000 fish this year compared to just 35,000 last year.