The National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS; President Kwon Soon-wook) announced that it visited land-based starry flounder aquafarms in North Gyeongsang Province on July 21 (Tue) to provide technical support aimed at preventing damage to farmed fish caused by the repeated occurrence of cold water mass alongside periods of high water temperatures.

Water temperatures in the coastal waters of the East Sea tend to fluctuate rapidly due to the repeated occurrence and dissipiation of cold water mass, as well as warm summer water temperatures. These drastic changes in water temperature can impose considerable stress on aquaculture organisms, leading to decreased feed intake and weakened immunity, thereby increasing the risk of aquatic disease outbreaks. Therefore, thorough on-site inspections are required. 

For this reason, the East Sea Fisheries Resarch Institute of NIFS, alongside Gyeongbuk Fishing Technology Institute, visited the aquafarms to conduct joint on-site inspections of water management practices and responses to high water temperatures and cold water mass, while listening to the operational difficulties from the farmers. The two institutes provided practical guidelines on preventive measures to minimize damage from water temperature fluctuations caused by cold water mass events, including reducing water flow and feed amounts while maintaining adequate oxygen levels. They also provided technical support for aquaculture management at each growth stage to prepare for a spike in water temperature after the cold water mass dissipated. 

Moreover, NIFS recommended that farmers check the real-time data on water temperature and cold water mass events provided by NIFS and urged them to promptly report any signs of abnormality in farmed fish to the concerned organizations. 

Choe Mi-kyung, Director-General of the East Sea Fisheries Research Institute, said, “During the summer, the east coast of Korea experiences drastic changes in water temperature due to the occurrence and dissipiation of cold water mass combined with high water temperatures. Therefore, we need to be fully prepared. By strengthening partnerships with local governments and providing field-centered technical support, NIFS will do its best to minimize damage to aquaculture farmers.”