Early Yellowing Across 3,331 Hectares of Laver Farms
"Nutrient Depletion, the Result of 30 Years of the Geum River Estuary Barrage"
The sea off the coast of Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province, has turned yellow. As early yellowing has swept across all laver farms, local fishermen are insisting that the government immediately implement the opening of seawater flow at the Geumgang River estuary, saying, "We can't hold out any longer."
The argument that the fundamental cause of the recurring yellowing is the blockage of nutrients due to the Geumgang Estuary Bank is gaining traction.
Severe yellowing is spreading across all laver farming areas in Seocheon County, causing rapid and extensive damage to fishermen.
Laver producers have strongly urged the government to take decisive action, stating, "Unless seawater flow is restored at the Geumgang River estuary, yellowing will recur every year."
On November 13, in front of the Marang-ri Seobu Fisheries Cooperative auction house in Seocheon County, local fisheries organizations such as the Seocheon County Chapter of the Laver Producers Association, the Raw Laver Producers and Fishermen's Association, and the Seocheon Seobu Fisheries Cooperative Laver Producers Council, along with Lee Kangsun (Democratic Party) Seocheon County Council member and Yoo Seungkwang, Chairperson of the National Council for Estuary Ecological Restoration (and advisor to the Geumgang Estuary Ecological Restoration Promotion Group), held a press conference and officially requested a visit to the affected site by the Prime Minister.
According to Seocheon County, large-scale yellowing was confirmed even before the first harvest at about 60,000 laver farming racks installed across 3,331 hectares in the areas of Maseo-myeon, Biin-myeon, and Seomyeon. In contrast, some areas near the Geumgang estuary, such as Yubudo and Songnim, suffered relatively less damage.
Yellowing occurs when the concentration of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in seawater drops, causing the color of laver to turn yellow and its growth to halt. This leads to a sharp decline in both yield and quality, resulting in significant losses for fishing households.
Fishermen argue that, based on the pattern of damage, "the core problem is the blockage of freshwater flowing from the Geumgang River."
They claim that since the construction of the Geumgang Estuary Bank, the supply of nutrients has decreased, causing the coastal ecosystem of Seocheon to rapidly become oligotrophic.
These organizations stated, "For 30 years since the construction of the Geumgang Estuary Bank, the marine ecosystem has collapsed, and laver farming has been plagued by the fear of yellowing every year. The government must stop offering patchwork solutions and immediately push forward with the opening of seawater flow at the Geumgang River estuary."
They also called for: ▲ the formation of a "Yellowing Damage Countermeasures Committee" in Seocheon County ▲ prompt identification of the cause and preparation of countermeasures at the government level ▲ public disclosure of plans to open seawater flow at the Geumgang River estuary ▲ and on-site visits and joint countermeasures by the central government.
Chairperson Yoo Seungkwang stressed, "Yellowing is not a temporary disaster but a structural issue. Since nutrient deficiency is clear, opening seawater flow at the Geumgang River estuary is a task that can no longer be delayed."
County Council member Lee Kangsun said, "It is a serious situation where laver spores that should be growing are unable to develop. The government and local authorities must work together to come up with a fundamental, science-based solution."
Kim Wankyu, Chairperson of the Seocheon County Fisheries Cooperative Raw Laver Producers Council, appealed, "We must continue to investigate the damage and analyze the causes. Since it is impossible for fishermen alone to respond to the changing marine environment, substantial government support is needed."
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