Busan issues first algae alert of year at Hwamyeong water sports complex

The Busan city government issued the first "Attention"-level algae alert of the year at the Hwamyeong Water Sports Town site, effective 3 p.m. Wednesday, under its pilot waterfront algae alert program.

Surveys conducted on June 29 and Tuesday found harmful cyanobacteria cell counts of 22,508 and 22,177 per milliliter, respectively, at the Hwamyeong Water Sports Town site — exceeding the 20,000-per-milliliter threshold for an "Attention"-level alert for the second consecutive survey.

This year's first waterfront algae alert came roughly one month and 20 days earlier than last year. Officials attributed the jump in harmful cyanobacteria counts to persistently favorable conditions for algae growth, including elevated water temperatures and reduced flow velocity.

In response to the "Attention"-level alert, the city plans to hang banners at Hwamyeong Ecological Park urging the public to refrain from water leisure activities and the harvesting or consumption of shellfish and fish, and will conduct public announcements and on-site patrols.

Busan has run the pilot waterfront algae alert program at the Samnak and Hwamyeong water sports towns since 2024 to ensure safe waterfront activities for residents. Shim Jae-min, the city's director of environmental and water policy, urged the public to "refrain from water leisure activities and from catching or eating shellfish and fish near Hwamyeong Ecological Park until the algae alert is lifted."