- The MOF has come up with the comprehensive measures to protect fishing industry and beach-goers from unfortunate accidents. -

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) has announced “2021 Comprehensive countermeasures against jellyfish-made damage” occurring in coastal and offshore areas of Korea. This is an action plan built on annual forecast by the MOF about when and how many the slippery creature will come.

It is expected that Moon jellyfish (Aurelia coerulea) would be spotted exceeding the warning level in quantity(occurrence rate) in mid & late June this year, according to the National Institute of Fishery Science (NIFS), as its immature bodies (in ephyrae and young medusa stages) are discovered more than those of last year in the seas of Jeollanam-do Province (southwestern part) and Gyeongsangnam-do Province (southeastern part).

Not much different is the case of Nomura’s jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai). The harmony of 0.5-1℃ higher sea temperature year-on-year and averaged strength of the Tsushima Warm Current would potentially cause the shore filled with the dense population of the species, even though the young-staged bodies show the last year’s level in quantity(occurrence rate) (19 per 1 ha.).

The MOF will preemptively take step-by-step measures, ranging from monitoring to rehabilitation, to prevent fishing industry from jellyfish-caused damage; and swimmers from its stings.

1. Rigorous preventive activities

The MOF will accurately forecast jellyfish’s moving route based on the analysis of monitoring conducted by the NIFS, local governments and private sectors. The resultant data can promptly be obtained on the NIFS website (www.nifs.go.kr) for the public; and by text messages for monitoring staff, local governments and other relevant officers.

Public access is available to report on the case of coming across the floating animal. Anyone can participate in e-reporting scheme on the website (www.nifs.go.kr/m_jelly) or its application which presents its information in real time. Also, 400 potential reporters in July and August are given an opportunity to get the gift, a fancy LED-mood lamp with jellyfish-shaped lighting therein, along with the informative booklet of jellyfish appearance in 2020.

The safety of swimmers can be assured by a project, worth of KRW 1 billion, on eliminating the polyps of Moon jellyfish targeted for the seas of Chungcheongnam-do Province, Jeollabuk-do Province and Gyeongsangnam-do Province. Also, jellyfish-blocking devices installed in 23 beaches around the nation will certainly protect vacationers from any unfortunate accidents.

2. Rapid response to the appearance

A response team will be headquartered in the MOF for comprehensive and effective management, which consists of the general affairs, accident relief, on-site response and beach management parts. The team’s tasks are shared with each emergency group created in local governments and the NIFS for close cooperation.
It is also expected that a partnership with the local governments in operation of jellyfish-eliminating boats produces mitigating the risk of damage in accident-prone waters.

3. Disaster relief and meticulous finance support

Relief funds are arranged for victimized fishing community and farm which are subject to financial services to help their business stabilized including rollover and interest relief of occupied fishery funds as well as emergency business stabilization financing.

Promotion for vacationers plays another important role to create accident-free beach. Given the information of toxic jellyfish and first aid, beach users are eligible for the accident insurance covered by the National Health Insurance Service in the event of their being stung by the annoying creature.

Director Ko, Song-ju of Fishery Resources Policy Division stated that “We are determined to protect fishing community and vacationers from jellyfish-induced accidents. As the successful prevention depends on active participation of the public, a single tiny attempt to report the creature floating on the waters can ultimately add up.”