Last Year’s Sharp Decline in Fish Farming Production... Impact of High Water Temperatures

Statistics Korea, '2023 Fish Aquaculture Trend Survey'

On the 29th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' seafood origin labeling inspection team visited the Suhyup Gangseo Wholesale Market in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to check the status of seafood origin labeling. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Last year, fish aquaculture production volume decreased by double digits compared to the previous year. The expansion of high-temperature mortality damage due to climate change and the aging population are causing the number of aquaculture businesses to gradually decline.

According to the preliminary results of the 2023 Fish Aquaculture Trend Survey released by Statistics Korea on the 22nd, last year's fish aquaculture production volume was 80,000 tons, a 12.5% (11,000 tons) decrease from the previous year. The production value was 1.1194 trillion won, down 13.0% (166.6 billion won) compared to the previous year.

Statistics Korea explained, "Species with a high proportion of aquaculture such as flatfish and rockfish suffered mortality due to high-temperature damage, resulting in a significant decrease in production volume."

By species, the production volume decline was largest in the order of red sea bream (-22.3%), mullet (-14.4%), flatfish (-12.8%), and rockfish (-10.9%).

The number of fish aquaculture businesses last year was 1,446, a decrease of 17 (-1.2%) from the previous year (1,463). The number of fish aquaculture workers was 5,300, an increase of 248 (4.9%) from the previous year (5,052).

Statistics Korea explained that the increase in the number of workers was due to the influx of foreign workers in aquaculture farm management and other areas following the end of COVID-19 quarantine measures.

Statistics Korea analyzed, "Last year's fish aquaculture saw declines in most indicators due to high-temperature mortality damage, falling prices at production sites, and decreased demand from sales channels," adding, "The aging of business owners and worsening management have led to an increase in business closures and suspensions, causing the number of aquaculture businesses to decline annually."

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