173,029 Lines of Seaweed Affected by Blade Detachment, Accounting for 59% of Total
Jeonnam Province Plans to Request Disaster Recognition and Provide Alternative Feed Support
Jeonnam Province Governor Kim Young-rok is listening to the damage status and requests regarding the Wando seaweed farm in Deukam-ri, Yaksan-myeon, Wando-gun on the 14th, urging prompt damage recovery measures. Provided by Jeonnam Province
On December 14, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, visited the Deukam fishing village cooperative's seaweed farm in Yaksan-myeon, Wando-gun, where seaweed blade detachment damage had occurred, to inspect the site and offer words of comfort to the affected fishermen.
According to Jeonnam Province, the Wando area has been experiencing a series of cases where seaweed stems and blades fall off during the initial stages of cultivation, resulting in production disruptions and increasing management burdens. In fact, since mid-November, a total of 2,931 farms across 12 towns and townships in the region have reported damage to 173,029 lines of seaweed. This accounts for about 59% of the total seaweed cultivation facilities.
The exact cause of the damage has not yet been identified, but fishermen have pointed to stagnant water temperatures after main attachment, the occurrence of clear water, and nutrient deficiencies as possible factors. In particular, considering that the optimal temperature for seaweed spore attachment is below 20 degrees Celsius and for main attachment is 18 degrees Celsius, it is being suggested that the rise in water temperature to 22-23 degrees Celsius in early to mid-October may have affected growth.
Governor Kim has ordered a comprehensive damage survey at the provincial level and announced plans to actively request the central government to recognize this damage as a disaster based on the survey results.
Wando is the main production area, accounting for about 63% of the total seaweed farm area in Jeonnam Province. About 70% of the seaweed produced is used as feed for abalone farming, raising concerns that the current damage could spread to the abalone aquaculture industry as a whole.
Jeonnam Province plans to support the stable supply of feed for abalone farms by providing alternative stocking of Gompi and kelp seeds and assisting with the purchase of production materials. The province also intends to strengthen on-site monitoring and preemptive surveillance to prepare for marine environmental variability caused by climate change.
Governor Kim stated, "The damage that occurred during the initial stage of seaweed cultivation has created significant difficulties for those working in the fisheries sector," adding, "We will spare no administrative support to minimize the damage and ensure a stable supply of feed for abalone farming."
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