Province designates first West Sea 'summer grounds' to minimize high-water-temperature damage
Farmed fish in South Chungcheong Province are heading to cooler depths to ride out the summer heat.
South Chungcheong Province announced Thursday it will designate and operate a "wolhajang" — a temporary summer aquaculture zone — as part of its efforts to prevent damage to fish farms from recurring high sea-surface temperatures along the West Sea coast.
The designation, made under Article 42 of the Aquaculture Industry Development Act and Article 41 of its enforcement rules, marks the first such case on the West Sea coast and aims to minimize high-temperature damage to cage fish farms in Cheonsu Bay.
A wolhajang is a temporary summer aquaculture zone where farmed fish are relocated and managed in waters with more stable temperatures during periods of high heat.
The province has designated a 2-hectare stretch of sea off Sapsido-ri (Godaedo) in Boryeong as the wolhajang. A pilot operation will run from June 8 through 30 days after the high-water-temperature advisory is lifted.
The pilot covers jopibolrak, a species of black rockfish. The wolhajang may be used within the valid term of the relevant aquaculture license, and the operating period may be adjusted based on weather and sea conditions as needed.
To strengthen safety and environmental management during operations, the province has made the following measures mandatory: installing lights and markers visible day and night, restoring the site to its original condition within 30 days after high temperatures subside, prohibiting the dumping of marine waste and fishery byproducts, collecting and disposing of waste properly, and complying with navigational safety rules.
Users of the wolhajang must enroll in aquaculture disaster insurance covering losses caused by high water temperatures. Boryeong has been authorized to take necessary measures, including adjusting the operating period, to ensure efficient management.
South Chungcheong Province plans to closely analyze the results of the pilot and, if the program proves effective, consider expanding it to cover the entire coastline under its jurisdiction.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
