Climate change drives up shark activity off Korea’s east coast

The iconic line from the 1975 film “Jaws” — “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!” — is taking on new resonance in Korea. Rising sea temperatures, a result of climate change, have led to a sharp increase in shark sightings along the nation's east coast. The National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS) reports a significant rise in shark activity, with the number of sharks hauled in by fishing boats as unintended catch in the East Sea climbing from just one in 2022 to 44 last year. As of late July, 22 additional cases have already been reported this year. The increase has provoked unease in coastal communities, particularly as more visitors venture into open waters during the summer holiday season. In response, local governments are stepping up safety measures. For the first time, Gangwon Province allocated 45 million won ($32,500) this year to install protective nets at 14 major beaches along the East Sea. The nets are intended to keep sharks, jellyfish and other marine threats away from people in the water. The east coast city of Gangneung has also deployed shark deterrent dWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times