Wando-gun Expects Marine Bioindustry Revitalization Through Gamtae Experimental Aquaculture

Installation of Gamtae Farming Facilities in Three Areas: Sinji, Cheongsan, and Geumdangmyeon
Supply of Functional Material Raw Ingredients and Potential Use as Alternative Feed for Abalone

Wando County installed seaweed farming facilities in three sea areas: Sinji-myeon, Cheongsan-myeon, and Geumdang-myeon last April. (Photo by Wando County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] As the marine bioindustry is emerging as a future industry, Wando-gun (Governor Shin Woo-cheol) announced that it is promoting functional seaweed experimental aquaculture to establish a marine bioindustry foundation through the extraction of functional substances from seaweed and to utilize the useful components of seaweed.

The first target is Gamtae, one of the promising aquaculture species. Gamtae is a brown algae seaweed mainly inhabiting the southern coast and Jeju Island area. Some aquaculture farms supply it as feed for abalone, and it is used as a source for extracting the functional substance polyphenol.

Wando-gun installed Gamtae aquaculture facilities in three sea areas: Sinji-myeon, Cheongsan-myeon, and Geumdang-myeon, starting with a business agreement with the Jeonnam Marine Fisheries Science Institute Wando Branch in April.

Over the next two years until 2021, Wando plans to investigate the possibility of mass aquaculture of Gamtae in the Wando sea area and analyze its economic feasibility compared to other seaweeds to decide whether to promote Gamtae aquaculture.

If mass aquaculture of Gamtae is feasible, it can be used as alternative feed during the high-temperature season for abalone feed seaweed such as Miyeok and Dasima, and a stable supply as raw material for pharmaceuticals and functional substances will be possible.

A Wando-gun official stated, “Starting with Gamtae, we plan to promote experimental aquaculture of various seaweeds such as Keunipmojaban and Neolppaet to prepare for the activation of the marine bioindustry. We will strive to cultivate promising aquaculture species that will revitalize the stagnant seaweed aquaculture industry and create new income sources for aquaculture farms.”

The annual domestic seaweed production is 1.8 million tons, of which 70% is produced in Wando.

Most seaweeds are developed into processed foods and health functional foods and consumed in the food sector, while their applications in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and bioenergy industries are limitless.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.