Warming seas slash Ulleung's squid catch by 99 percent in 25 years

The squid catch around Ulleung Island has plummeted by 99 percent over the past 25 years, as rising sea temperatures caused by climate change alter Korea's marine ecosystem. According to Ulleung County, the local catch dwindled from 11,315 tons in 2000 to just 141 tons in 2025, representing only 1.2 percent of the 2000 figure. This decline has persisted into the current year, with only 54 tons caught from January to September.

Squid is a vital part of Ulleung's economy and signature seafood, but dwindling numbers are pushing the marine food chain northward, with squid migrating towards Russia and other areas in search of cooler waters. The National Institute of Fisheries Science attributes the shift to the warming of the southern East Sea, which has made it inhospitable for traditional squid habitats.