# South Korean aquaculture heat and red tide damage

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-aquaculture-heat-and-red-tide-damage
> Updated: 2026-09-28T00:27:57.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 4.

Aquaculture industries in South Korea’s South Sea, particularly in Gyeongsangnam-do, suffered significant losses due to high water temperatures and red tide advisories. By late August, the cumulative death toll of farmed fish exceeded 3 million, with financial damages estimated at approximately 6.14 billion won. The National Institute of Fisheries Science issued red tide ‘caution’ advisories for waters spanning from Dumyeong to Jisimdo. Local authorities responded by deploying prevention vessels to spray red clay and using drones for monitoring. In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries initiated advance insurance payments to support recovery for farmers in Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. The ministry planned to distribute approximately 900 million won to 39 farms, with goals to expand these payments to 52 farms totaling 2.3 billion won. While the government sought to mitigate the premium burden on farmers, the impact on consumer prices for species such as flatfish and rockfish remained minimal at approximately 0.4%. Recent reports indicate that record-breaking high water temperatures during a summer heatwave have led to even more extensive damage. In Gyeongsangbuk-do, approximately 3.22 million fish died, marking the largest damage on record for that region, with Pohang suffering significant impacts primarily to rockfish stocks. Financial losses in Gyeongsangbuk-do alone are estimated at over 3.3 billion KRW. To address the escalating crisis, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced a 13.7 billion KRW disaster relief package for 338 affected households across Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, Chungnam, and Gyeongbuk provinces. By mid-year, aquaculture losses have surged sharply, with an estimated 16.2 million farmed fish dead across provinces including Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Jeonnam, and Jeju. Suhyup reported 333 insurance claims totaling approximately 25.8 billion won, which is more than double the number and amount of claims from the previous year.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-28: Aquaculture losses surge in South Korea due to high water temperatures

High water temperatures in South Korea have caused massive aquaculture losses, with an estimated 16.2 million fish dead and insurance claims doubling compared to last year.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aquaculture-losses-surge-in-south-korea-due-to-high-water-temperatures

### 2026-09-20: South Korea fishery disasters escalate due to rising water temperatures

Rising water temperatures in South Korea have caused record fishery damages, prompting calls for a dedicated disaster law and digital management systems to replace inadequate current response frameworks.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-aquaculture-faces-record-losses-from-high-water-temperatures

### 2026-09-09: South Korea advances insurance payments for aquaculture heat damage

South Korea is advancing 900 million won in insurance payments to aquaculture farmers hit by high water temperatures, aiming to reach 2.3 billion won before Chuseok.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-advances-insurance-payments-for-aquaculture-heat-damage

### 2026-08-28: South Sea aquaculture faces heavy losses from high temperatures and red tide

High water temperatures and red tide advisories in South Korea's South Sea have caused over 3 million farmed fish to die, resulting in approximately 6.14 billion won in damages.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-sea-aquaculture-faces-heavy-losses-from-high-temperatures-and-red-tide

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Cite as: South Korean aquaculture heat and red tide damage. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-aquaculture-heat-and-red-tide-damage