October 28, 2015
South Korean firm succeeds in raising salmon
A South Korean aquaculture firm has successfully farmed salmonon a year-round basis, according to the Northeast Asian country''s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the Yonyap News Agency reported.
The MOF said that since late last year Donghae STF Co. has been raising some 10,000 silver salmon at a special enclosure some 5 kilometers off the country''s eastern coast, making South Koreathe first Asian country to successfully farm salmon throughout the year. South Korea joins six other countries that have succeeded in raising salmon, including Norway, Chile and Denmark.
Donghae STF also plans to raise Atlantic salmon starting next year.
The farming of local salmon is expected to reduce South Korea''s imports, which reached around 22,810 tonnes last year.
"With the success of salmon fish farming, upwards to 800 tons of high-quality fish that will be fresher, taste better and be 20-30 percent cheaper than imports can reach the market," Oh Woon-yul, general director of fisheries infrastructure at the MOF, was quoted as saying.
He added that South Korea may eventually export farmed salmon to other markets in Northeast Asia such as Japan, which consumes around 600,000 tonnes of salmon yearly, and China with an annual demand for around 300,000 tonnes.