Extreme heat has killed more than 1.8 million strong-water fish at a land-based aquaculture farm in Pohang's Homigot region [1].
The mass die-off highlights the vulnerability of coastal food production to rising ocean temperatures, which can quickly exceed the biological limits of specific species.
Water temperatures in the sea fronting the farm reached a peak of 28°C [1]. This surge occurred during a period of intense heat, with the most severe impacts recorded during July 2024 [1].
Strong-water fish typically thrive in cooler environments, with an optimal water temperature of approximately 20°C [1]. The sustained high temperatures created conditions unsuitable for the fish to survive, leading to a steady rate of loss.
Farm operator Jeong Yeon-sik said the facility saw an average of 4,000 fish die per day [1]. The loss represents a significant blow to the local aquaculture industry in Pohang.
Land-based farms are often designed to control environmental variables, but they remain dependent on the intake of seawater. When the source water from the ocean rises to dangerous levels, the cooling systems of these facilities can be overwhelmed by the ambient heat of the surrounding environment [1].
“More than 1.8 million strong-water fish died”
The scale of this die-off underscores the increasing risk that climate-driven marine heatwaves pose to specialized aquaculture. Because strong-water fish have a narrow thermal window, small increases in average seawater temperatures can lead to total crop failure, potentially forcing farmers to either invest in expensive industrial chilling systems or migrate to cooler northern waters.
