Gangwon-do Launches Korea's First 'Atlantic Salmon Localization' Initiative

Securing Mass Production Technology for Juvenile Salmon through Freshwater Aquaculture
Advancing 'K-Salmon' Industrialization after Juvenile Salmon Transition to Seawater

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gangwon Province is the first in Korea to promote the localization of Atlantic salmon, which has been entirely dependent on imports. The province plans to actively conduct research on producing 'K-Salmon' by transferring juvenile salmon raised in freshwater aquaculture to the sea.

The Inland Water Resources Center of Gangwon Province announced on the 17th, "We are moving 2,000 juvenile salmon (around 130g) grown through freshwater aquaculture to the Hanhaeseong Fisheries Resources Center (located in Goseong) to promote seawater aquaculture research."

Before and after smolt photos (left parr, right smolt) [Photo by Gangwon Inland Water Resources Center]

The juvenile salmon were raised for about a year in freshwater from 50,000 Atlantic salmon fertilized eggs, which were first imported into Korea after the 2021 amendment of the Biodiversity Act. Recently, they underwent the smoltification process in preparation for seawater transfer. 'Smolt' refers to the phenomenon of turning silvery white during the migration to the sea or to juvenile salmon (weighing about 120g) that have turned silvery white.

The juvenile salmon transferred to the Hanhaeseong Fisheries Resources Center will undergo a one-week seawater acclimation process before entering full-scale research on adult salmon (5?8kg) production. Using a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), research will be conducted to standardize eco-friendly adult salmon production (5kg), and smart aquaculture technology development will be pursued to foster Atlantic salmon as a strategic species for Korea's future aquaculture.

The Inland Water Resources Center, which has registered two patented technologies for fertilized egg hatching for the first time in Korea through freshwater aquaculture research, has developed technologies that form the foundation of the inland water salmon aquaculture industry, including mass production technology for juvenile salmon (130g) with improved survival rates (from 10% to 90%) and eco-friendly high-density aquaculture methods.

Choi Seong-gyun, head of the Gangwon Province East Sea Headquarters, said, "Since the salmon aquaculture industry is one of Gangwon Province's most important future food industries, we will definitely succeed in localizing Atlantic salmon, which depends on imports, through collaboration between Gangwon's fisheries research institutions (inland water and marine)."

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