“Since using the AI (Artificial Intelligence) aquaculture platform, the mortality rate of abalone due to high water temperatures has been reduced by more than half.”

On the 5th, at a cage aquaculture farm about 1 km from Daesinhang, Wando-eup, Wando-gun, fisherman Lee Hyun-gu (47) stated, “AI informs us of changes in the sea in advance,” with a smile. He noted that since adopting the AI aquaculture platform in January this year, the survival rate of abalone has noticeably increased.

In one of the 880 compartments of Lee's farm, an ‘observation station’ is installed. It is equipped with sensors and cameras that measure marine environmental factors such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity in real-time, and monitor sea conditions like waves and wind, as well as the feeding activities of abalone. He mentioned, “It has become much easier as I can check the farm conditions anytime on my mobile phone,” and added, “AI has become the ‘sea doctor’ for abalone.”

● Responding to High Temperature Crisis with Data

Lee's farm is located in waters surrounded by Wando-eup, Nohwado, Haenam Dalmasan, and Ttangkkeut Village. The depth ranges from 7 to 12 meters, making it suitable for abalone farming due to abundant water temperature and oxygen levels. Lee returned to the sea in 2012 after working in the city. “I became a fisherman because I love the sea. However, with climate change, the sea is no longer what it used to be.”

He currently operates a 3-hectare abalone farm and a 7-hectare seaweed and kelp farm for abalone feed, producing 600,000 to 700,000 abalones annually. However, in recent years, the rapid rise in water temperature due to climate change has led to frequent deaths. “Abalone are most active at water temperatures of 15 to 17 degrees, but their feed intake decreases above 23 degrees, and they must stop feeding to survive above 27 degrees.” He stated, “Thanks to the observation station providing real-time water temperature this summer, we adjusted the feed amount, reducing the mortality rate from 5% last year to 2% this year.”

The data previously provided by the fisheries authorities was merely the average water temperature of the entire Wando area, but the AI observation station provides ‘data specific to my farm’ with precision. Lee emphasized, “Even within Wando, there are large temperature variations due to differences in currents or sunlight,” and “accurate data is necessary for feed adjustment.”

● Pilot Installation in 8 Farms…‘Healing Sea’ Project in Operation

Since this year, Wando-gun has been actively operating the ‘Healing Sea AI Aquaculture Platform’ to respond to climate change and prevent overproduction. Observation stations have been installed in eight abalone and flatfish farms in areas such as Wando-eup, Nohwado, and Geumildo to measure water temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels in real-time.

The information collected from the observation stations is immediately delivered to the farm owners and simultaneously transmitted and stored in the Wando-gun office’s computer room.

Hwang Cheol-woong, head of the Information and Communication Team in Wando-gun, explained, “Even lifelong fishermen rely on intuition for abalone feed amounts or density,” and “analyzing data accumulated over 3 to 4 years by the AI platform can provide optimized breeding standards for each farm.”

● AI Solidifies Status as ‘Number One in Fisheries’

Wando, known for its pristine waters, is called the ‘Number One in Fisheries’ due to its abundance of farmed species such as abalone, flatfish, seaweed, kelp, and laver. Industrialized abalone farming, which began in the early 2000s, has increased from 6,921 hectares and 8,578 tons in 2010 to 3,615 hectares and 16,341 tons recently. Seventy percent of the nation’s abalone production comes from Wando.

However, due to climate change and overproduction, abalone prices are on a decline. Concerns about mortality due to high temperatures have led fishermen to ship early before summer (April to June), causing repeated ‘overproduction.’ The price of abalone has dropped from KRW 48,000 per 10 pieces per kg in 2012 to KRW 22,000 this year. “Previously, there was talk of making a fortune from abalone farming, but now it’s just maintaining the status quo. A significant mortality event can immediately lead to a deficit.”

Wando-gun sees AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technology as the key to solving these issues. By predicting high temperatures through the AI platform and adjusting feed amounts and population, it is possible not only to reduce mortality rates but also to cut production costs and enable eco-friendly farming.

Shin Woo-cheol, the head of Wando-gun, stated, “AI technology will be the solution to the greatest threat to abalone farming, high temperatures,” and “it will become a new paradigm for overcoming climate change and moving towards sustainable fisheries.”

Popular News