‘동해에 나타난 대형 참치’ 지구가 우리에게 보내는 마지막 경고 '기후 위기' ㅣ KBS 다큐 인사이트 - 기후 위기 인간 2부 사라진 계절 25.10.02 방송

Summary

The documentary presents disrupted seasonal patterns as evidence of climate change, showing how warming is affecting fisheries, farming, and marine ecosystems from Korea to Alaska and the Arctic.

• Unusual tuna catches in the East Sea: A fixed net off Yeongdeok, designed to catch migratory fish moving with currents, unexpectedly caught large numbers of bluefin tuna. The fishermen could not keep catches beyond Korea’s quota, so some fish had to be discarded. The program links the appearance of warm-water species farther north to changing sea temperatures, currents, and the movement of their prey.
• Climate stress on apple farming: Apple trees are flowering earlier, but late snow and cold snaps can damage blossoms and reduce fruit production. Warmer winters and extreme heat add further risks, while fewer pollinators can make orchards more vulnerable. The documentary describes apple cultivation shifting northward and cites projections that suitable growing areas could become much more limited.
• Changes in Jeju’s seas: Haenyeo report declines in shellfish and seaweed. Surveys also find warm-water species, including tropical corals and fish, in new areas. High ocean temperatures are damaging coral reefs through bleaching and tissue loss, threatening habitats and species that depend on them.
• Connected changes across the oceans: The program describes the Kuroshio Current shifting north and carrying warm water and marine species into new regions. In Alaska, more frequent severe storms and warmer seas coincide with a sharp decline in salmon catches. The documentary also points to changes in salinity and salmon migration as possible contributing factors.
• Warming in the Arctic: Researchers report shrinking sea ice, more rainfall, and changes in marine life. Ice-dependent Arctic cod are vulnerable as their habitat disappears, while shrimp, squid, and barnacle larvae are being observed farther north. The program warns that rapid Arctic change could affect ocean circulation and ecosystems well beyond the region.

Overall, the documentary argues that climate change is already altering the timing of natural cycles and the distribution of species—and that these changes threaten livelihoods and ecosystems across national borders.

Methods and Observations Featured

• Fixed-net fishing: Nets set in strong currents catch migratory fish moving along seasonal routes.
• Local ecological records: Haenyeo document underwater changes with cameras and compare present-day catches with historical diving records.
• Marine surveys: Citizen-science and research teams record coral, fish, and other species. Researchers also examine tuna stomach contents to identify prey.
• Long-term ecological monitoring: A Japanese marine research station has observed local marine organisms and larvae since 1969.
• Arctic fieldwork: Researchers aboard the icebreaker Araon collect organisms and use underwater drones. Field teams measure sea-ice thickness, temperature, and mineral concentrations.
• Climate impacts on agriculture: Apple growers’ experience illustrates how flowering time, frost, heat, and pollination affect harvests.

Researchers, Sources, and Other Featured Contributors

• Son Sang-hyeon — Yeongdeok fishing-boat captain.
• Ma Young-hoon — Apple farmer.
• Ma Yong-ha — Apple farmer who moved north to Yanggu, as described in the program.
• Ko Myung-hyo — Jeju haenyeo and marine observer; member of the coral exploration team.
• Park Je-cheol — Local fishing captain.
• Dr. Yang Eun-jin — Researcher tracking changes in Arctic marine ecosystems.
• Harris — Alaska-based environmental and ecological preservation activist.
• East Sea Fisheries Research Institute — Analyzed bluefin tuna prey.
• Korea Polar Research Institute — Conducts Arctic research aboard the Araon.
• Paran Marine Citizen Science Center — Coordinates coral and marine ecosystem exploration.
• Kyoto University’s Seto Marine Biological Laboratory / research station — Long-term observations of marine organisms and larvae near Wakayama.
• Iho-dong haenyeo records — Historical diving and catch records dating back to the 1970s.