Travel
Jellyfish remain a nuisance at Busan beaches
Haps Magazine Korea
August 20, 2024
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As jellyfish populations surge along the East Coast, jellyfish sting incidents at Busan beaches have significantly spiked, putting local authorities on high alert.
According to the Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters, from June 1st to August 18th, there were 701 reported cases of jellyfish stings across seven beaches in the Busan area.
This marks a staggering 451% increase from the 127 cases recorded by July 25th.
Compared to the same period last year, sting incidents have surged by 810%. The highest number of stings occurred at Songjeong Beach, with 228 cases, followed by Songdo (211 cases), Gwangalli (142 cases), and Haeundae (108 cases).
This alarming rise in jellyfish encounters is attributed to an unprecedented influx of Nomura’s jellyfish, a highly venomous species that has been swarming the Korean coast from China.
According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science, the concentration of Nomura’s jellyfish this year reached 108 per hectare, the highest since records began in 2015. Nomura’s jellyfish can cause severe symptoms, including swelling, fever, muscle paralysis, breathing difficulties, and even shock if stung.
In response to this threat, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries issued a special alert on July 5th for all waters around Jeju Island, extending it to Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk on July 12th, and to Jeonnam and Gangwon on July 23rd.
The sharp increase in jellyfish numbers is believed to be due to a surge in the volume of jellyfish migrating from the East China Sea, their presumed origin.
Captain Park Byeong-su of the Songjeong Fishing Village reported that each boat is now catching between 200 to 500 kilograms of jellyfish—four to five times the usual amount.
Local governments managing these beaches are now intensifying their efforts to combat the jellyfish threat and ensure public safety.