Accorrding to NIFS, it found that the marine environment and fisheries disasters for each sea area took on a significantly different tenor due to the abnormal climate under climate change with the results by the analysis on the causes and characteristics of fisheries disaster occurrence in Korean waters. 

The high water temperature (HWT) warning period this year lasted for 85 days (7.9-10.1), increased by 14 days compared to last year, making it the longest period on record. From July to September, the average water temperature in Korean waters was 26.8-27.8℃ -which was 2-4℃ higher than the average year- showing the HWT pattern comparable to last year, but coastal areas varied significantly by sea area. 

Since August, the Jeju and west coast had shown little variability in water temperature with 22-30℃ YoY, but the water temperature in south and east coast fluctuated; very high temperature from early July to early August with 18-27℃ YoY, but from mid August to late September with water temperature 2-4℃ lower than last year. 

The southern sea areas experienced red tide damages for the first time in six years due to the record intensive downpour by the frequent growth of a stationary front and the impacts of the steady southerly wind coupled with the North Pacific High, causing increased nutrients, a decrease in the number of competitor species, the formation of water temperatures just right for the growth of red tide organisms (24-27℃) and cold watermass.

The impacts of abnormal climate applied to the emergence of Nomura’s Jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai). The low water temperature across East Asia including Korean waters slowed the occurrence and growth of jellyfish, reducing the damages to fishing activities and holiday goers by 44% YoY. 

In case of HWT of this year, the damages to aquaculture organisms decreased by approximately 13% YoY coupled with a slowdown in the increase of water temperature in the coasts of the East and South seas and preemptive actions such as early harvest to mitigate the damages, urgent release, etc. 

The president Choi Yong-seok of NIFS said, “The marine environment has changed every year due to climate change, resulting in the marine disasters taking on a different tenor. To respond to the rapid changes of the ecological environment in the Korean waters under climate change, NIFS will exert its best efforts to advance the prediction technology for climate change and secure prevention measures.”