Pohang City Responds Quickly to High Water Temperature Damage... All-Out Efforts to Minimize Fishermen's Losses

Support for High Water Temperature Damage Prevention and Control Equipment, Ongoing Monitoring and Rapid Situation Updates

Mayor Lee Kangduk: "We Will Actively Support the Protection of Fisheries Resources and Prevention of Fishermen's Damage"

Pohang City has initiated a rapid response system to prevent high water temperature damage as water temperatures rise due to the full onset of the heatwave.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, on the 8th, a high water temperature advisory was expanded for the coastal area of North Gyeongsang Province (from the northern tip of Homigot, Pohang City, to Buk-myeon, Uljin County). A preliminary high water temperature alert has been in effect for the entire East Sea coast since the 5th.

The high water temperature alert system issues a preliminary alert when the water temperature reaches 25°C, an advisory when it is expected to reach 28°C, and a warning if it remains above 28°C for three consecutive days.

The city anticipates that the high water temperature advisory and warning will continue for some time due to the ongoing heatwave and rising temperatures of offshore water flowing into the East Sea coast. As a result, Pohang is making every effort to prevent high water temperature damage, including conducting special guidance and inspections for fishers, such as those in aquaculture, who are expected to be affected.

As of August, there are 93 aquaculture farms in the region (40 land-based, 16 cage, 7 festival-style, 30 longline), with a total stock of 14.06 million fish (12.03 million olive flounder, 570,000 flatfish, 1.11 million rockfish, 350,000 amberjack and others).

To prevent high water temperature damage, the city has secured a budget of 1.8 billion KRW to preemptively provide response equipment such as 821 tons of liquid oxygen, 797 circulation pumps, 8 tons of immune boosters, 17 liters of mixed vaccines, and 63 heat pumps.

Additionally, the city is focusing its administrative efforts on minimizing damage to fishers by establishing an early detection and forecasting system, ensuring rapid dissemination of information, conducting continuous monitoring, and building a public-private collaborative response system.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "We will provide the maximum possible support, including budget for response equipment, to protect marine resources and prevent damage to fishers," and urged, "We hope fishers will also inspect their personal response equipment in advance and actively participate in self-directed prevention activities."