This year, the sardine stock is expected to remain at last year's level.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science projected that sardine resources in the waters near our country would remain at a similar level to last year. Analysis results from the scientific survey conducted in the first half of this year, based on 'fusion detection technology,' showed that the influx of female individuals decreased slightly compared to the previous year, but the density of eggs and the total catch increased. Fusion detection technology is a survey method that comprehensively evaluates the spatial distribution and resource density of sardines by detecting schools of fish with scientific fishing equipment, followed by continuous egg collection, environmental DNA analysis, and catch trial surveys. In this year's survey, the average acoustic density of sardines (NASC) in the main distribution area, the southern coast, decreased by more than 40% from 6.9 m²/nmi² last year to 2.5 m²/nmi² this year, with a total survey area of 4048 km². The concentration of ...