100% Import-Dependent 'Daeseoyang Salmon' Opens Path for Domestic Farming

Commercial Imports Require Permission, Research Use Requires Notification... Establishing a System Framework

Atlantic Salmon [Provided by the Ministry of Environment]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The institutional foundation for domestic farming of 'Atlantic salmon,' which has been entirely dependent on imports, has been established.

Gangwon Province announced on the 6th, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Gangwon Province East Sea Headquarters have made it possible to import 'Atlantic salmon' fertilized eggs, which had been restricted under the 'Biodiversity Act'."

'Atlantic salmon' was designated as a 'species of concern' by the Ministry of Environment in June 2016, making commercial import of fertilized eggs virtually impossible until now.

Even the fertilized eggs for research purposes that could be imported had to undergo a 'risk assessment' each time, with an approval period taking as long as six months, leading to criticism that the procedures were complicated and cumbersome.

However, the province and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries consistently emphasized the necessity of domestic farming of 'Atlantic salmon,' and with the revision of the 'Biodiversity Act' in October 2019, Atlantic salmon was reclassified as a 'species requiring caution upon introduction.'

'Species requiring caution upon introduction' refers to alien species that may pose a threat to the ecosystem when introduced domestically.

Accordingly, the province applied to the Wonju Regional Environmental Office in July last year for a 'risk assessment' of 'Atlantic salmon.' The National Institute of Ecology under the Ministry of Environment reviewed it as a candidate for 'ecosystem species of concern' for about five months, and an administrative notice for revising the designation was announced (`20.12.28~`21.1.18).

Once the Ministry of Environment's ecosystem 'species of concern' designation is revised, companies or fisheries wishing to engage in commercial farming can obtain import approval for 'ecosystem species of concern' from the local environmental office (which takes 15 days), enabling farming, and research institutions will be able to import at any time by simply reporting the import.

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