Oyster sushi was held, but...Fishermen's 'Devastated Room' at the mass death.

First oyster auction this year...Oyster yield expected to decrease

When I went to the oyster farm, only empty shells were 'full'

Fishermen, let alone harvest oysters, are in a position to remove oyster shells.

[Anchor]
On the southern coast of South Gyeongsang Province, the first auction was held to distribute oysters in season.

However, there are many places where oysters die collectively, so farmed fishermen are worried.

Reporter Lim Hyung-joon reports.

[Reporter]
The first oyster auction of the year, the first sale.

Middle-aged and wholesalers holding bidders in one hand fight to preempt high-quality oysters.The

oyster sushi ceremony was held, but the outlook for the fishing situation is not bright as the yield is expected to decrease this year compared to last year.

[Ji Hong-tae / Head of the Gulsu Harvest Water Industry Cooperative: I think about 30-40% of oyster deaths, and it's very heartbreaking to think that it's happening now]

I went out by boat to see the situation of the oyster farm.

When I opened the shell of the oyster attached to the string, it was hollow.

The condition is the same even if you open other oysters.

Fishermen who have to start harvesting oysters in earnest in the season are in a position to remove the oyster shells.

[Haetae-sam / oyster farm fishermen: We have 5 hectares of oyster fishing grounds, and 100% of the oysters are dead. (In 55 years of farming) This is the first time this year that we have suffered such deaths. The one that completely died.]

In Gyeongnam, there were mass deaths of oysters in five cities and counties, including Goseong.

Death occurred in a fish farm with an area of 800ha, about a quarter of the total 3,200ha.

The estimated amount of damage is about 14.6 billion won.

The cause is believed to be high water temperature or oxygen-deficient water lumps, and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute has launched an investigation into the cause.

After the joint investigation team's damage investigation is completed, local governments will support the affected fishermen, but it is expected to take some time to recover from the damage, so the difficulties of oyster farms are expected to continue for the time being.

I'm YTN's Lim Hyungjun.

Reporter for filming
: Kang Tae-woo
Provided by drone: Goseong-gun