Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Develop New Aquaculture Farms from July... Significantly Increase Kim Production

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Promotes 'Kim Supply Stabilization Plan'

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has decided to expand seaweed production by newly developing a 2,700-hectare-scale aquaculture farm starting in July. The introduction of a contract farming system, currently implemented for vegetables and fruit trees, is also under consideration. To alleviate the burden on dried seaweed and seasoned seaweed processing companies, tariff quotas will be applied to dried seaweed and seasoned seaweed.

Scenery of a Seaweed Farm

On the 25th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it will promote the "Seaweed Supply Stabilization Plan" based on these measures. As the preference for seaweed has increased in overseas markets, causing prices of fresh and dried seaweed to rise, the ministry plans to implement related policies to respond to seaweed export demand and secure domestic supply stably.

The ministry will newly develop a 2,700-hectare-scale aquaculture farm starting in July this year. By the end of this month, the development plans submitted by city, county, and district offices will be finalized, and in May and June, new aquaculture farms will be announced and candidates selected. New licenses will be granted starting in July.

Aquaculture operators who receive new licenses will begin making and installing seaweed racks from July, and start spore attachment (seeding) on the racks from September. After seeding and cultivating the seaweed, early-harvested Itbadi-dol seaweed will be produced from October and November this year. The general Bangsamuni seaweed will be produced from December this year through May of the following year. From next year, the aquaculture farms will be expanded considering supply and demand conditions.

The introduction of a contract farming system, currently implemented for vegetables and fruit trees, is also being considered. Contract farming is a system where producer groups and producers sign annual cultivation and shipment contracts to autonomously manage supply and demand at production sites. By engaging in contract farming, producers are guaranteed appropriate prices and can manage supply and demand by adjusting shipment timing and volume in cases of early shipment during shortages or controlling output during overproduction.

To reduce cost burdens, tariff quotas will be applied to dried seaweed (basic tariff 20%) and seasoned seaweed (basic tariff 8%). Tariff quotas are a system that lowers tariffs for a limited quantity. Imported seaweed is expected to help supply domestic raw materials such as lunchbox seaweed by substituting demand for seaweed powder mainly used in large-scale consumption.

Discount support for seaweed supply will continue at marts and online malls. As was done in April by designating dried seaweed (including gimbap seaweed) as a mandatory discount item with up to 50% discount support, the same discount support will be provided in May. Additionally, funding for raw material purchases has been provided to seaweed processing companies, and considering industry demand, additional funds will be injected if necessary.

Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, "We will continue to faithfully implement seaweed supply stabilization measures and manage them so that the public can consume seaweed without burden."

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