Gyeongbuk Province Opens Era of Popularizing Next-Generation Food 'K-Salmon'

Establishment of Research and Development Plan for Salmonid Smart Aqua Farm

Responding to the Global 60 Trillion Market with Smart Aquaculture Technology Development

Aerial view of Pohang Smart Aquaculture Cluster.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The Gyeongbuk Fisheries Resources Research Institute has established and announced the ‘Salmonid Smart Aqua Farm Research and Development Plan’ as a countermeasure for salmon, which is entirely dependent on imports.

Salmon is the only animal-based food among the world’s top 10 superfoods announced by the WHO and has recently been leading the global market and food culture.

In South Korea, salmon consumption has nearly tripled over the past decade (18,000 tons in 2013 → 57,000 tons in 2021) due to increased imports.

The global salmon aquaculture production volume is 3.77 million tons, with Norway and Chile accounting for more than 80% of salmon production.

Aiming to develop complete aquaculture technology and promote resource utilization, the institute plans to create a new turning point in scientific resource conservation research under the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC), which was established in 1993 to manage anadromous fish in the North Pacific and waters north of 33˚N latitude; South Korea joined in 2003.

For Atlantic salmon, which is entirely import-dependent, and king salmon, known for its highest quality, smart aquaculture technology will be introduced to establish a foothold for new aquaculture production research.

In February 2022, this project was selected in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries R&D competition, securing a project budget of 2 billion KRW, which is expected to accelerate the project’s progress.

Leveraging the characteristic of salmon hatching in freshwater and growing in the sea, artificial seed production of salmon will be conducted at the Freshwater Fish Research Center (from hatching to up to 100g), while the institute will focus on research through growth and maturation to broodstock, signaling a positive outlook for academic research value and enhancement of fishery productivity.

Additionally, the ‘Pohang Smart Aquaculture Cluster Construction’ project, with a total investment of 40 billion KRW over four years (2021?2025), will be linked and cooperated with to successfully promote the project, playing a pioneering role in achieving the 4th industrial revolution through aquaculture technology development.

Kim Seong-hak, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “We will do our best to restore resources through smart complete aquaculture technology for imported salmon, realize a role model leading the salmon research field, and enhance the status of Gyeongbuk-style K Salmon in the global market.”

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