NIFS projected that sardine stocks off the coast of Korea this year would stay at the similar level when compared to the ones of last year.  

According to the result of scientific research based on ‘convergence detection technology’* in the first half of this year, the inflow of mother sardine entities a little decreased, but the density of eggs and the total catch increased year-on-year. When it comes to the coastal catch for coastal sardine populations, the volume of catch decreased. 

*The technology for comprehensive survey on spatial distribution and resource density through detecting fish populations by fish finder, the continuous underway fish egg sampling, experimental survey of environmental DNA and fishing, etc. 

The result found that the average density of sardine populations in the southern coast of Korea*, a main distribution coastal area of sardine, was an over 40% decrease from the previeous year. The environmental DNA density** and the detection range decreased, too.

*Nautical Area Scattering Coefficient (NASC) (m²/nmi²): (’24) 6.9 → (’25) 2.5 / total range: 4,048㎢

**Environmental DNA density(copy/ml): (’24) 62.7 → (’25) 31.9 

In contrast, the density of appearance of sardine eggs* surveyed in the continuous underway fish egg sampling** increased around four times compared to the previous year. It is known that sardine spawn in the water temperature ranged 12-19℃, but in particular the possibility of egg appearance increased when the water temperature reaches 16℃. With water temperature in the southern coast of Korea in April of this year ranged 12-16℃, therefore, the appearance density and distribution range were analyzed to increase.

*The result of continuous underway fish egg sampler (CUFES) (unit/1,000m³): (’24) 62 → (’25) 258

**The continuous underway fish egg sampler (CUFES) is a device used to collect fish eggs while a ship is underway. It is designed to continuously sample fish eggs at a specific depth. 

According to the statistics on fishery production by Statistics Korea, the total catch from January to March of this year* was a 10% increase from last year. More specifically, the catch of coastal purse seine (accounting for 46% of annual catch) plummeted to the level of 4% of last year. The offshore large purse seine (accounting for 9% of annual catch), however, increased by 93%, underpinning the increase of total catch**.

*Domestic sardine catch (tons): (’21) 90 → (’22) 12,030 → (’23) 44,498 → (’24) 38,264

 Total sardine catch, January-May (tons): (’24) 12,686 → (’25) 14,028

**Total catch of coastal purse seine, January-May (tons): (’24) 3,108 → (’25) 137

   Total catch of large purse seine, January-May (tons): (’24) 6,040 → (’25) 11,667