Unilever.edu.vn recognizes the profound impact of climate change on communities worldwide, including the fascinating and threatened culture of South Korea’s ‘sea women,’ known as Haenyeo. These remarkable women, renowned for their free-diving skills in harvesting seafood, face an uncertain future as the ocean they depend on undergoes dramatic transformations.
For centuries, the Haenyeo have played a vital role in Korean society, their lives intrinsically linked to the sea. With remarkable resilience and deep knowledge of the ocean’s rhythms, these women, many now in their 70s and 80s, plunge into the depths, holding their breath for minutes at a time to gather seaweed, shellfish, and other treasures from the ocean floor.
An elderly Haenyeo woman smiles, dressed in her diving gear.
A Changing Ocean: Warming Waters and Shifting Ecosystems
However, the waters off the coast of South Korea are warming at an alarming rate, up to 2.6 times faster than the global average. This dramatic shift in temperature disrupts the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem, impacting the very species the Haenyeo rely upon for their livelihood.
As the ocean warms, traditional fishing grounds are becoming less productive. The seaweed forests, crucial for absorbing carbon dioxide and providing habitat for marine life, are dwindling. Invasive species, like sea urchins that devour kelp forests, thrive in warmer waters, further disrupting the ecosystem.
A Deeper Dive: The Increasing Challenges for Haenyeo
These changes force the Haenyeo to dive deeper and for longer durations to maintain their catch, placing immense strain on their aging bodies. The physical demands of their work are compounded by the declining yields, leaving them with meager earnings for hours of strenuous labor.
So-Hee, a 35-year-old Haenyeo, alongside her partner, is determined to preserve her cultural heritage and the ocean she depends on. Together, they’ve launched a YouTube channel, “Modern Sea Women,” documenting their experiences and raising awareness about the challenges they face. Their efforts offer a glimpse into the daily lives of these extraordinary women and highlight the urgency of addressing the impacts of climate change.
So-Hee and her partner work together, pulling in their catch from the ocean.
Government Initiatives and the Uncertain Future
The South Korean government has implemented initiatives to combat ocean desertification, including a marine forest creation project that involves planting new seaweed to absorb carbon dioxide and restore marine habitats. While these efforts offer a glimmer of hope, the long-term effectiveness remains to be seen.
For veteran Haenyeo like 86-year-old Ko Bokkham, the changes are stark. She laments earning half of what she did the previous year, finding more golf balls on the ocean floor than sea cucumbers. The future weighs heavily on her mind as she worries about putting food on the table and the potential disappearance of her lifelong profession.
Ko Bokkham prepares to enter the water for a day of diving.
A Cultural Legacy at Risk
The plight of the Haenyeo is a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of human communities and the natural world. Their story underscores the urgent need for global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. As the ocean they depend on undergoes rapid transformation, the future of these extraordinary women, their cultural heritage, and their way of life hang in the balance.
