The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Sunday that it provided disaster relief payments and loans to affected households on April 30 to help with recovery.
Low water temperature refers to a sharp drop in sea-surface temperatures during winter cold snaps. Farmed species are vulnerable because their immunity weakens, while feed intake and digestion decline, raising the risk of die-offs.
To limit damage from low temperatures this year, the ministry provided 1.5 billion won to aquaculture households that carried out emergency releases. It also paid 1.4 billion won in disaster relief to oyster farms that were damaged last year by abnormal water temperatures.
In addition, 200 million won in support was applied retroactively to fishing households harmed by disasters that occurred before revisions to the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety took effect.
The ministry said it will assess the scale of losses and extend repayment deadlines for existing fisheries policy loans accordingly. It will also reduce interest on policy loans for one year for damage rates of at least 30% but less than 50%, and for two years for damage rates of 50% or more.
Fishers seeking support can apply through the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and Suhyup Bank.
Choi Hyeon-ho, director general for fisheries policy at the ministry, said the government will pay recovery funds as quickly as possible to help stabilize management at fishing operations. He said the ministry will continue working with local governments and other related agencies to minimize damage from natural disasters.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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