From September 2 when an red tide alert was issued until now, fish farms including Namhae-gun, Goseong-gun and gulfs of Tongyeong lost approximately 1.2 million red sea-bream and rockfish, making 2,885 million won, equivalent to US$2,786,000, losses. (image: screenshot image of KBS)
SEOUL, Sep. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – A highly concentrated red tide killed more than 1.2 million fish during the Chuseok holidays in coastal waters off South Gyeongsang Province.
From September 2 when an red tide alert was issued until now, fish farms including Namhae-gun, Goseong-gun and gulfs of Tongyeong lost approximately 1.2 million red sea-bream and rockfish, making 2,885 million won, equivalent to US$2,786,000, losses.
Officials and fishermen are doing whatever they can such as dumping red clay to prevent the toxic blooms from increasing.
“Increasing red tides take toll on a lot of fish. We put forth our best efforts to stop them but it is quite hard because it is too widespread to deal with,” an official at Namhae County Office said.
Cochlodinium polykrikoides, causing a red tide, is highly concentrated in coastal areas of Namhae County, recording up to 4,400 per milliliter, which is considered as the main culprit.
In the area, 110 fish farms currently raise more than 137 million fish including rockfish, flatfish, filefish and sea bream.
“Fishermen here are in adverse situations because of the red tide following the declining consumption caused by the ferry disaster,” Park Wi-seong, a fisherman, said.
