The flower crab catch in the Yellow Sea's Yeonpyeong fishing ground this April has been reported to be only one-tenth of last year's amount for the same period. The drop in water temperature has caused the flower crabs that spent the winter in the open sea to miss their timely migration.
According to Incheon’s Ongjin County on the 8th, the flower crab catch in the Yeonpyeong fishing ground last month was 7,807 kg, a 89.5% decrease from 74,154 kg in the same month last year. This is the first time in five years that the catch in the first month of the spring fishing season (April to June) has fallen below 10,000 kg since 2020 (6,119 kg).
According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science's Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, the main reason for the sharp decrease in flower crab catch is the low water temperature. The water temperature in the Yeonpyeong fishing ground recorded between 8°C and 11.9°C last month, generally about 1°C lower than the same period last year (8.6°C to 12.6°C). This suggests that the flower crabs that spent the winter in the open sea may not have migrated in time.
Researcher Lee Soo-jung from the National Institute of Fisheries Science noted, "Flower crabs complete their wintering in March and migrate to the Yellow Sea's coast in April, but it is estimated that low water temperatures have delayed their movement," adding, "The significant decrease in the autumn catch last year and the low precipitation are also believed to have affected the catch harvest. "
As a result of the decrease in catch, the income for fishermen has significantly decreased as well. Last April, the fishery revenue was 1.13 billion won, but this April it dropped to 240 million won, a 78.6% decrease. This is the lowest level since 2020.
The Yeonpyeong fishing ground allows fishing only during the spring season (April to June) and autumn season (September to November) to protect the spawning flower crabs. According to the enforcement ordinance of the Fisheries Resource Management Act, the closed season for flower crabs is set between June and September. An official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated, "We are not considering adjustments to the closed season in the Yeonpyeong fishing ground," explaining that related research or investigations need to be conducted first, and other areas of the Yellow Sea must also be taken into account.
Previously, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries adjusted the closure period for flower crab fishing in the Baengnyeong, Daecheong, and Socheongdo fishing grounds at the request of residents, postponing it by 15 days from July 16 to September 15.