The quality of Hakodate's specialty "true kelp" declines Is the rising seawater temperature affected by the extreme heat?

In Hakodate City, Hokkaido, fishermen complain that the quality of the specialty "true kelp" has deteriorated this summer.
The city believes that the extreme heat and high seawater temperature may have had an effect, so we will proceed with interviews with each fishing cooperative.

Hakodate City is a production area for "true kelp", which is known as a luxury product, but according to the city, fishermen have complained that marine life of jellyfish and sea anemones called "hydrozoa" is attached to true kelp caught in summer.

According to the city, there is no health problem even if you eat kombu with "hydrozoa" attached, but because it looks bad, the attached part is cut off and discarded, which reduces the shipment volume, and it takes time to remove it, and the shipment is delayed by about one month from usual.

Tetsuro Yoshida, who has been cultivating true kelp for more than 50 years, says, "This is the first time that we have suffered such damage, and if we continue to do it every year, we will not be able to do aquaculture."

The city believes that the extreme heat and high seawater temperature may have had an effect, and will proceed with interviews with each fisheries cooperative in the future.