Warming waters draw tropical species north, changing Korean fishing

An unusual sight unfolded off the coast of Jeju Island on Monday afternoon. Around 3 p.m., sea surface temperatures approached 30 degrees Celsius — 7 to 8 degrees higher than at the same time last year, according to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province's Ocean and Fisheries Research Institute. But the heat wasn’t the only surprise. Fishermen hauled in a manta ray nearly 1.8 meters long, a species typically native to tropical and subtropical waters. The manta ray, listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and rarely caught this far north, is one of many warm-water species now appearing in Korean waters as ocean temperatures continue to rise due to climate change. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science, sea surface temperatures in Korean waters rose by about 1.35 degrees Celsius between 1968 and 2021 due to climate change. As a result, abnormal temperature patterns have become more frequent, leading to increased sightings of toxic jellyfish and subtropical fish species. Last year, the average annual surface temperatureWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times