Aquaculture Operators Decrease for 10 Consecutive Years... Plunge 25% to 1,601 Locations

Weakening Industrial Basic Strength... Workers Also Decrease by 7% to Barely 5,000
Imports Increased by 13%... "Impact of Early Shipment to Prevent Deaths"

On the afternoon of August 25 last year, when Typhoon Bavi rapidly moved northward, a fisherman on Heuksando Island, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, is firmly tying the lines of a rockfish sea farm. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The number of aquaculture businesses in South Korea has decreased for 10 consecutive years. It has declined by 25% compared to nine years ago. Although the income (production value) of operators slightly increased last year, this is analyzed as a 'visual illusion effect' caused by business owners trying to prevent fish species mortality and secure minimal operating funds amid the spread of COVID-19. The prolonged rainy season and worsening weather conditions also led to the closure of small-scale aquaculture farms, resulting in a decrease in full-time workers.

According to the '2020 Fish Aquaculture Trend Survey Results (Provisional)' released by Statistics Korea on the 25th, the number of businesses engaged in fish aquaculture last year was 1,601, down 2.4% (40 businesses) from the previous year. Since 2011, when there were 2,144 businesses, the number has decreased for 10 consecutive years, a 25.3% (543 businesses) decline from that time. The number of aquaculture workers also fell to 5,132 last year, a 7% (388 people) decrease from the previous year. A Statistics Korea official explained, "Due to the long rainy season and worsening weather conditions, the marine environment changed last year, and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic worsened business conditions, leading to an increase in small-scale aquaculture farms temporarily closing or shutting down, which caused the decrease in full-time workers."

Meanwhile, the production value and volume of fish aquaculture slightly increased last year. The production value rose 13% from the previous year to 106 billion KRW. Since it had decreased by 12% in 2019 compared to the previous year, this means it returned to the 2018 level. Production volume recorded 88,200 tons, a 3.5% increase from the previous year. This was largely due to operators accelerating the early shipment of certain fish species with a large share in aquaculture production amid the spread of COVID-19.

A Statistics Korea official explained, "Due to the economic downturn, operators tried to secure operating funds and prevent fish species mortality, which led to an increase in shipment prices for major species such as flatfish (Nubchi) and rockfish (Jopibollak), resulting in early shipment of medium and large fish." This means that although the profitability of operators temporarily improved last year, the fundamental strength of the industry, such as the decrease in workers, has not improved.

By species, flatfish (Gwang-eo) had the highest production volume at 43,800 tons, followed by rockfish (Ureok) at 21,600 tons, mullet species at 8,400 tons, red sea bream at 5,800 tons, and sea bass species at 800 tons. Production volume increased from the previous year for most species, including mullet species (27.8%), rockfish (6.0%), red sea bream (4.6%), and flatfish (1.0%). The number of fish raised in aquaculture farms was 442 million, a 2.3% increase from the previous year. The number of fry stocked in farms was 307 million, a 3.9% increase from the previous year.

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