Prices of fishery goods jump on heat wave

SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) -- Prices of fishery goods in South Korea jumped sharply on-year in the first week of August, industry data showed Sunday, due to a shortage in supply following the blistering heat wave enveloping the country.

According to the data compiled by the Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, a kilogram of croaker cost 47,000 won (US$41.6) in the first week of August, up 60 percent from the same period a year earlier.

The price of red sea bream also shot up 50 percent on-year per kilogram of fish, with mackerel also trading 40 percent higher.

Industry watchers said the prices of major seafood, except for salmon and crabs, which are mostly imported, rose sharply due to the falling amount of catch amid rising water temperature.

The combined total of seafood arriving at wholesale markets across the country in the first week of August decreased 30 percent on-year.

"Even considering the unstable nature of the seafood supply, the impact of the latest heat wave and increasing water temperature are meaningful," an industry watcher said. "The trend may continue for the time being."

colin@yna.co.kr
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