"AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the 'sea doctor' for abalone."

On the 5th, fisherman Lee Hyun-gu (47), encountered at a cage aquaculture farm about 1 km from Daesin Port in Wando-eup, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, stated this. He said, "AI informs us of changes in the sea in advance," and "Since using the AI aquaculture platform, the mortality rate of abalone due to high temperatures has been reduced by more than half."

One of the 880 cages at Lee's farm is equipped with an 'observatory.' It measures marine environmental factors such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity in real-time, and is equipped with sensors and cameras to monitor maritime conditions like waves and wind, as well as the feeding activities of abalone. He explained, "I can check the farm's conditions anytime on my mobile phone, making the work much easier."

● AI informs water temperature, reducing mortality rate by more than half

Wando, known for its pristine waters, is the 'number one place for fisheries,' accounting for 70% of the nation's abalone production. In the early 2000s, Wando's abalone aquaculture was industrialized, with the aquaculture area reaching 6,921 hectares (1 hectare is 10,000 square meters) and production at 8,578 tons in 2010. Recently, the aquaculture area has been recorded at 3,615 hectares, with production at 16,341 tons. Although the area has nearly halved, production per unit area has increased. The background to this is smart fishing using AI and other technologies.

Since this year, Wando-gun has been fully operating the 'Healing Sea AI Aquaculture Platform' to respond to climate change and prevent mass shipments. Observatories have been installed at eight abalone and flatfish farms in Wando-eup, Nohwado, and Geumildo to measure water temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels in real-time. The collected information is simultaneously transmitted to the fishermen's mobile phones and the Wando-gun office's computer room.

Lee's farm is one of them. Located in waters surrounded by Wando-eup, Nohwado, Haenam Dalmasan, and the southernmost village, the area is 7 to 12 meters deep, making it suitable for aquaculture. However, frequent deaths have occurred due to rising water temperatures in recent years. He said, "Abalone move actively at water temperatures of 15 to 17 degrees, but their food intake decreases above 23 degrees, and they must stop eating to survive above 27 degrees." He added, "This year, the observatory informed us of water temperature changes in real-time, allowing us to adjust the feeding amount, reducing the mortality rate from 5% last year to 2% this year."

While existing fisheries authorities' data only provided average water temperature information for the entire Wando sea area, AI observatories offer 'customized data' for each farm. Hwang Cheol-woong, head of Wando-gun's Information and Communication Team, explained, "By analyzing data accumulated over 3 to 4 years by the AI platform, we can derive optimal breeding standards for each farm," adding, "We are at the stage of systematizing sea experience into data." Shin Woo-chul, the governor of Wando-gun, stated, "AI technology is a solution to combat the greatest threat to abalone farming, high temperatures, and a starting point for sustainable fisheries."

Gyeongnam Tongyeong City is also advancing 'smart aquaculture' using AI. To reduce aquaculture damage caused by recurring heatwaves and abnormal marine environmental phenomena, Tongyeong City has developed an 'AI prediction model' and will launch the service next month. By integrating coastal environment and aquaculture data accumulated over the past 10 years with public data, a new dataset with high utility value has been created, and a predictive algorithm has been completed in collaboration with private cloud services. This system comprehensively analyzes sea fluctuation factors to detect early warning signals for each farm and provides alerts to fishermen.

Yang Hwa-ja, head of Tongyeong City's Smart City Information Team, said, "AI helps predict disaster risks in advance for proactive responses," adding, "AI technology will become a new safety net protecting fishermen's livelihoods." Tongyeong City plans to expand this system to about 20 major aquaculture farms in the region starting next year and open the accumulated data to educational and public institutions to enhance its utility.

● Changes in the fishing paradigm lead to urban residents returning to fishing

As technological innovation changes the fishing paradigm, the enthusiasm for urban residents returning to fishing has also increased. The 'Gangwon Return to Fishing School,' which opened in Gangneung in 2020, continues to attract applicants. Selected as a project by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, this school provides comprehensive information on fisheries practices and settlement in fishing villages to urban residents dreaming of returning to fishing.

The five-week practical training course for those aged 18 to 64 includes two weeks of theory and field trips, obtaining a restricted radio operator license, and three weeks of hands-on practice on fishing boats engaging in longline, pot, and gillnet fishing. The education is entirely free. So far, 399 graduates have completed 19 courses, and 114 out of 281 graduates from 2020 to 2023 have returned to fishing, recording a return rate of 40.5%.

Kwon Se-man (42), who worked in the IT industry in Seoul before graduating from the Return to Fishing School, is a representative case. After completing the course in 2021, he returned to fishing in Gangneung, purchasing a 4.6-ton fishing vessel and becoming both owner and captain. Kwon said, "After seeing myself blankly sitting in front of a computer, I found a new path. Now, I'm living my second life as a real fisherman," he laughed.

The Return to Fishing School is recently expanding its educational scope to include aquaculture, processing, and distribution. A school official stated, "With the spread of AI and smart aquaculture, the entry barriers to fishing are lowering," adding, "Urban-style fishermen who understand advanced technology are becoming the new main generation in fishing villages."

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