Hundreds of Mackerel and Herring Found Dead in Mass Die-off at Gangneung Beach

Hundreds of mackerel and herring were found dead at Gangneung's Yeongok Beach on the 16th. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the incident. Mackerel carcasses were also spotted at the nearby Gyeongpo Beach. The resulting stench caused inconvenience for residents and tourists.

Gangneung City believes the possibility of marine pollution is low, as no specific anomalies such as pollutants were detected. This die-off follows recent mass deaths of anchovies along the East Coast, with anchovies washing ashore on the 10th.

The city is considering the possibility that small fish, caught alongside bluefin tuna during recent fishing operations, died from shock. It is explained that small fish trapped in nets during purse seine fishing for bluefin tuna may have died from the shock of the capture process and were subsequently washed ashore by currents and waves.

Bluefin tuna are predatory fish that primarily feed on small species such as anchovies, juvenile mackerel, and horse mackerel. Indeed, bluefin tuna catches have been on the rise along the East Coast recently. The city is focusing on the connection between the recent surge in bluefin tuna catches and this die-off incident.

There are suggestions that this die-off event is related to recent changes in the marine environment observed along the East Coast. Factors such as the increase in warm-water species including bluefin tuna, the migration of prey species, and changes in water temperature may have acted in combination.

Gangneung City is proceeding with the collection of dead fish washed ashore and is working diligently to determine the exact cause of the deaths.