Lessons from South Korean Fishers & A Warning for All Seafood Consumers
Fishing is a timeless line between people and the sea, between our plates and the planet. But lately, that line is being pulled taut. In South Korea, many coastal fishers now say that climate change isn’t a future risk as it’s already rewriting the rules of their trade. The seas they know are shifting, storms are more violent, jellyfish are multiplying, and they’re having to travel farther offshore. This is hiking costs, stretching crew, and stretching quality.
These accounts may come from one region, but they align with global science. According to the 2024 FAO report “Climate change risks to marine ecosystems and fisheries – Projections to 2100 from the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project”, most countries face substantial declines in exploitable fish biomass as emissions rise.
What South Korean Fishers Are Actually Facing
The BBC and multiple media reports and interviews point to similar themes:
- Fishers are being forced to venture further out to sea because customary catch areas yield less. The longer journey means higher fuel and labour costs and increased risk of weather-related incidents.
- Cold water, rough seas and extreme winds are not just hazards. They are turning deadly in some cases, with fishers dying from exposure or accidents.
- Jellyfish blooms are growing thicker, sometimes clogging nets or forcing crew to discard gear or catch.
- Declining interest among younger generations to engage in the demanding business means many operators rely on foreign labour with less experience in local conditions, raising issues around safety, training and retention.
All of this matters for consumers too: cost pressures, reduced volume, lower quality, and higher environmental risk can translate into fewer choices, higher prices and more vulnerability in the seafood supply chain.
Why This Matters for Australian Seafood Consumers
As Australia’s seafood consumers, you might be thinking: “This is Korea’s problem.” But the reality is more interconnected. If climate change is reshaping fishers’ livelihoods abroad, that ripple reaches shores like ours in several ways:
- Supply risk: When global stocks or fleets face pressure, imported seafood becomes more volatile—and domestic fishers may face similar challenges.
- Price and quality pressure: Longer trips, rougher seas and lower catch rates raise costs and may reduce freshness or size of landed fish.
- Nutrition and sustainability: If fewer fish are caught responsibly, or if fishers are under stress, the long‐term availability of seafood for healthy diets may be undermined.
- Consumer trust: When fishers are under strain, the traceability, handling and labour conditions can all come under pressure—making the consumer’s job of choosing truly sustainable and fair seafood harder.
Global Science Confirms the Trend
The FAO report points out that under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), many regions could see biomass declines of more than 10 percent by mid-century—and 30 percent or more in some countries by end-century. Even under a lower-emissions scenario, losses are still significant. The report underscores the urgency of adaptation in both fisheries management and supply chains.
For small, coastal fleets like those in Korea, or in parts of Australia, these changes are not distant. They are affecting access, safety, crew recruitment, cost structures and the types of species fishers’ target. Government needs to be working with our professional fishers to ensure they get priority to stocks in order to feed the community.
What SCA Believes Consumers Should Know
At the Seafood Consumers Association we believe that being a responsible seafood consumer means being aware of the forces behind the catch—not only what ends up on the plate. Here are four principles we encourage:
- Understand risk upstream. Ask about how fish were caught, where, and under what conditions. If your fish is sourced from a fleet facing climate hazards, there may be extra cost or risk baked into the supply chain.
- Support sustainably managed fisheries and fleets. Choose seafood from operations that demonstrate resilience: safety standards, trained crews, stable catch practices and transparent traceability.
- Advocate for industry adaptation. Industry, regulators and consumers all have a stake in helping fisheries adapt to changing conditions: training, new gear, diversified target species, improved safety and operations.
- Stay informed about supply-chain conditions. The story of seafood isn’t just about sustainability of species, it’s about the people, places and economic systems that deliver seafood to our plate. Awareness builds better choice.
Final Word
When fishers in South Korea say they must travel farther, face colder seas, cope with jellyfish storms and rely on under-trained crews, we should pay attention. Because seafood is not an unlimited buffet, it’s the result of millions of decisions and conditions at sea. As consumers, our choices help shape the future of fishing, supply chains and the sustainability and fairness of seafood.
If we value seafood for nutrition, culture and economy, then we must value the people and conditions that bring it to us. The SCA will continue to monitor these changes and to work so that Australian seafood consumers can trust that what’s on the plate is good for them, good for fishers and good for the future.