Squid down 30%, herring up 68%… East Sea's 'gold squid' becomes rarer

While the overall fish catch in South Korea's East Sea has risen by 19% compared to last year, a stark contrast is emerging among key species. The region's signature catch, squid, has seen a dramatic decline, plummeting by 68% and now representing only 32% of the volume caught during the same period previously.

This significant drop in squid catches is attributed by the Gangwon Provincial Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Bureau to rising sea temperatures causing fish populations to migrate northward. The average sea temperature in the East Sea coastal areas during the survey period was between 23.8 and 27.3 degrees Celsius, which is 1.3 to 5.2 degrees higher than the average for this time of year.

Conversely, other species are thriving. Herring catches have surged by 68%, while mackerel catches increased by 64%. Pufferfish also saw a 25% rise, and snow crab catches were up by 41%. This shift in species abundance is altering the economic landscape for local fisheries, with squid becoming increasingly scarce and valuable, earning it the nickname 'gold squid'.

Despite the overall increase in catch volume, the total revenue from fishing has decreased by 6% year-on-year. This is largely due to the sharp decrease in squid catches and their associated revenue. Meanwhile, catches for flatfish and cod have decreased by 12% and 7% respectively. The situation highlights the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of marine ecosystems in response to environmental changes.

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The decrease in squid and the increase in herring and mackerel are making the changes in fish species in the East Sea even more pronounced.