Squid Catch in Jeju Plummets Due to Soaring Sea Temperatures
Prices of Squid and Sashimi Fish Surge, Burdening Tourists and Locals
Rockfish and Flatfish Also Hit by Heat, Prompting Urgent Countermeasures
Due to rising sea temperatures, the catch of Jeju's signature summer sashimi ingredient, squid, is expected to drop significantly again this year.
According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on July 12, a heat wave has pushed the sea temperature around Jeju to 30 degrees Celsius, prompting a high-temperature preliminary advisory. This far exceeds the optimal range of 20 to 24 degrees Celsius for squid fishing grounds, resulting in a sharp decline in catch.
In fact, fishermen have reported that the daily catch per squid fishing boat has dropped from the usual 20kg to less than 5kg this year. Statistics also confirm this downward trend. In June 2021, the squid catch was 215 tons, but it fell to 103 tons in 2022, 93 tons in 2023, and just 55 tons in 2024, showing a steep annual decline. The catch is expected to decrease further this year, falling short of last year's level.
As the catch has plummeted, squid prices have soared. Recently, the live squid auction price at Seongsanpo Fisheries Cooperative reached 80,000 to 90,000 won per kilogram. This is more than double last year's price of 30,000 to 40,000 won per kilogram. As a result, the prices of squid dishes have also risen sharply, increasing the burden on both tourists and local residents.
Meanwhile, the prices of rockfish and flatfish, both considered staple sashimi fish, have also risen by more than 10% year-on-year due to higher sea temperatures. According to the Korea Maritime Institute's Fisheries Outlook Center on July 11, the price of 500-600g live rockfish at Incheon Wholesale Fish Market in June rose by 41.8% compared to the same period last year, reaching 16,125 won per kilogram. This is higher than the peak heat wave prices of July (13,250 won) and August (13,813 won) last year. During the same period, the wholesale price of flatfish (900g-1.0kg) was 19,300 won per kilogram, up 14% from the same period last year.
On July 9, the National Institute of Fisheries Science under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries issued a "high-temperature advisory" for parts of the west and south coasts and the coastal waters of Jeju. The earlier-than-usual advisory has put rockfish and flatfish farms on high alert. Experts have stated that as "hot seas" become the new norm, countermeasures must be prepared to minimize the resulting damage. The institute is also reportedly accelerating the development of alternative species, including rockfish and flatfish that are more resistant to high temperatures.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
