- The MOF is planning to implement the updated comprehensive measures against abnormal high temperature of the sea and red tide. -

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) announced its plan to establish “2021 Comprehensive Countermeasures against rising sea temperature and red tide phenomena” to minimize adverse impact of the climate-related disasters that disproportionately hit hard on farmed fish in summer.

On an annual basis, MOF forecasts the occurrences of abnormal high sea temperature and red tide, and implements and implements counter-measures. According to the National Institute of Fishery Science (NIFS), the water temperature is forecast to exceed the average level by 0.5 to 1℃ due to the absence of El-Nino pattern and the impact of Tsushima Warm Current. Thus, a high temperature and red tide warning is expected to be issued in late July, somewhat earlier than last year. Last year, the two events came much later in mid and late August with short lives under the influence of long rainy season and typhoons.

The MOF has a detailed plan to take pre & post steps against the phenomena to make the damage as small as possible and give the greater advantages to fishing community.

1. Well-organized countermeasures

The MOF will earmark totaling KRW 7.8 billion (USD 7 million) to provide the local governments with pieces of equipment such as liquefied oxygenator, bottom-water supplier and red-clay sprayer. Consisting of KRW 4 billion and 3.8 billion for prevention of high water temperature and red tide respectively, the budget allocation forms an important part of the Ministry’s preemptive measures against fish mortalities from oxygen deficiency and the spread of red tide algae.

The farmers will constantly be informed of the fish’s market value and supply & demand situation, which helps them to determine the optimal date for the shipment before experiencing any damage that high water temperature may cause. They will also be encouraged to insure their businesses against such unfortunate accidents so that they can normalize their businesses in a rapid manner.

2. Enhanced monitoring & forecast

The MOF will undertake a project, worth of KRW 1.9 billion, to develop a sea temperature forecast system which reflects the characteristics of Korean seas by 2025. Along with the initiative, 20 observatories will be established in Jeollanam-do Province (southwestern part) and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province (southeastern part) to monitor the temperature in real time.

Opportunities are given to the public to participate in monitoring and forecast work, as the NIFS plans to select 50 citizens for “public watchdog of red tide.” Provided with analysis kits including foldscope and the guidance, the public watchdog serves to report any occurrence of red tide after analyzing specimen obtained by marine leisure and fishing activities. Also, e-reporting system created on the website (www.nifs.go.kr/rtm) will also continue to encourage the public participation, as an easy and handy way to report red tide at any time.

The NIFS official website (www.nifs.go.kr/risa) and mobile application will constantly give the farmers any information on water temperature obtained in real time by unmanned-patrol boats and 140 observatories studding the nation.

3. Public-private partnership for on-site response

The capacity to respond to the natural disasters will gain strength from the close cooperation between the public and private sectors. First, MOF-led control center and regional response team will fully get ready to handle the issues even from the initial stage (watch level) under the relevant contingency plan.

Upon the issue of a watch, the control center launches an investigation into the situation on site to report; prepare itself to support damaged areas; and hold a joint inquiry into what causes the event. The regional response team is responsible for the instruction program tailored to each farm in disaster-prone areas, which offers practical tips such as how to use accident-responding equipment and suspend feed supply.

In addition, strong and full-fledged prevention system will come with all kinds of the equipment from the attention level; drills conducted by a tripartite task force of public, private and military sectors; and a voluntary group led by fishing communities.

4. Post-damage measures

The MOF pays more attention to taking post-damage measures for disaster-stricken areas by providing proper facilities to dispose of dead fish, initially targeted for Jeollanam-do Province and Jeju-do Province. Also, burial sites will sustainably be developed customized to different situations of each local government.

Financial support plays another important role in the remedy. While the dejected farmers are subject to prompt payment of the accident insurance (for insurance policy holders) and emergency relief funds (for non-holders), the services of rollover and interest relief of occupied fishery management funds as well as emergency business stabilization financing stand ready to make their business stabilized.

5. Technical & administrative support

The MOF remains more sensitive to improving the rearing practice where densely-populated system is inadequately discovered. The determination will drive the Ministry to provide the farmers with the standardized guidance for rearing. Also, the launch of an outreach service of “mobile office to declare fish input” will help the farmers to declare and report aquatic fish input more easily. It is expected that the service increases the declaration rate that is essential for the farmers to be a recipient of damage relief.

Deputy Minister Kim, Jun-seok of Fisheries Policy Office stated that “The public-private cooperation holds the key to successful response to abnormal high temperature and red tide phenomena that frequently plague our fishing community. Even though it is impossible to ultimately stop the catastrophic events, we can prevent and minimize the damage caused by natural disasters by adopting comprehensive management system ranging from prevention to rehabilitation based on such close cooperation.”