Gyeongsangnam-do to Provide Disaster Relief Funds to Aquaculture Farms Affected by High Water Temperatures and Red Tide Before Chuseok

Gyeongsangnam-do Province will provide disaster relief funds to aquaculture farms affected by high water temperatures, red tide, and oxygen-depleted water masses.

On September 30, Gyeongsangnam-do announced its 2025 fisheries disaster response and support measures at the provincial government press center, stating, "We will provide the first phase of disaster relief funds to aquaculture farms where damage assessments have been completed around the Chuseok holiday."

The province will provide 700 million won each to 14 aquaculture farms that conducted emergency releases of 1.15 million farmed fish prior to the high water temperature event.

For 84 aquaculture farms where fish died due to red tide, 1.4 billion won will be provided, and for 92 farms where scallops and other species died due to oxygen-depleted water masses (hypoxic water masses), 1.6 billion won will be provided.

Lee Sanghoon, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Bureau of Gyeongnam Province, is announcing the first phase disaster relief fund support plan for local aquaculture farms affected by high water temperatures, red tides, and oxygen-depleted water masses. Photo by Lee Seryoung

A total of 190 aquaculture farms will receive the first phase of relief funds, with the overall support amounting to 3.7 billion won.

The province will combine national funds from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries with provincial and municipal funds to provide up to 50 million won per farm, depending on the scale of the damage, with payments to be made before Chuseok.

As of the end of September, 77 aquaculture farms in three cities and counties, including Tongyeong, reported damage from high water temperatures this summer, resulting in the death of 3.85 million farmed fish worth 3.7 billion won.

For red tide damage, 132 aquaculture farms in six cities and counties, including Namhae, Tongyeong, and Hadong, reported the death of 308 farmed fish worth 6.4 billion won.

Due to oxygen-depleted water masses, 143 aquaculture farms in two cities and counties, including Goseong County, reported the death of 4,405 lines of scallops, oysters, and other species, amounting to 4.5 billion won in damages.

2025 Fisheries Disaster Response and Support Measures Announced by Gyeongnam Province. Photo by Lee Seryeong

The province plans to provide disaster relief funds to aquaculture farms where damage assessments have not yet been completed after the Chuseok holiday, once the extent of the damage has been confirmed.

In addition, the province will continue to propose to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the National Assembly to increase the national subsidy rate for aquaculture disaster insurance from 50% to 60%, abolish the surcharge system, raise the disaster relief payment limit, and provide disaster relief funds for uninsured assets of insured farms.

The province also plans to encourage aquaculture farmers to enroll in aquaculture disaster insurance to ensure stable support.

Additionally, by 2030, the province will convert 15-20% (15 million fish) of the high water temperature-vulnerable rockfish stock to high water temperature-resistant strategic species such as Benizari.

This year, a total of 20 billion won will be invested in nine projects, including an advanced eco-friendly sea cucumber aquaculture system, to upgrade 249 aquaculture farms with smart and automated systems. In 2026, the province will establish a large-scale smart aquaculture farm as a new project by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Lee Sanghoon, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Bureau, stated, "We will do our best to provide practical assistance to fishers struggling due to fisheries disasters."