WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2015 17 of oysters, mussels, pearl oysters and sea squirts is based on these longline systems. Bottom culture techniques are used for benthic species such as ark shells and Manila clams. Usually, water depths for bottom culture are less than 20 m but occasionally can be around 40 m maximum. Shrimp. Shrimp farming in Korea began in the 1960s but the commercial farming industry developed in the 1980s. Two indigenous species, fleshy prawn (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) and kuruma prawn (P. japonicus), were widely cultured before the mid1990s. The former species was raised mostly in farms along the west of the peninsula and the latter in farms in the southern region. After an outbreak of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in 1993, kuruma shrimp culture was discontinued. Currently crustacean culture is primarily concerned with a single species of shrimp (Letopenaeus vannamei) and some crabs. In 2003, specific pathogen free (SPF) broodstocks of the whiteleg shrimp were introduced from Hawaii to the crustacean research center at NFRDI. Later, 1,400 SPF broodstock whiteleg shrimp were imported and introduced to commercial hatcheries for mass-scale postlarval production in 2004. Approximately 30 to 50 percent higher growth rate compared to fleshy prawn and comparatively lower frequency of viral outbreaks led to expansion of shrimp aquaculture after 2004 in Korea. Whiteleg shrimp production increased quickly and has been growing ever since the introduction. An annual yield of 3,785 t was recorded for whiteleg shrimp in 2013 which shows a dramatic increase when compared with the 2,705 t produced during 2010. Interest in shrimp farming is clearly growing. Most shrimp farms are located along the west coast of Korea. About 71 farms covering 672 ha area have been reported to be exclusively farming shrimps (Bai et al. 2013). Seaweeds. The mariculture sub-sector is dominated by seaweed production (Fig. 5), accounting for 74.7 percent of total production in 2013 (KOSTAT 2014). Seaweed production is dominated by laver (Porphyra spp.), Japanese kelp (Laminaria spp.) and sea mustard (Undaria spp.) (Table 4). Korea has been cultivating seaweeds since ancient times. Korea has contributed 4.3 percent of the total world farmed aquatic plant production in 2012 (FAO 2014). Good quality and properly dried seaweeds are in high demand in domestic and foreign markets. The majority of seaweed culture grounds are located on the west side of the south coast. Poryphyra production has become more pronounced after the 1980s due to artificial seeding, transplantation of new species, expansion of culture areas and development and implementation of the float system of cultivation (Bai et al. 2013). Freshwater Aquaculture Contrary to the trend in mariculture, freshwater culture is dominated by finfish. A total of 20,100 t of finfish was produced in 2013, accounting for more than 80 percent of annual freshwater aquaculture production (KOSTAT 2014). The bulk of finfish production consists of Japanese eel (5,210 t), Amur catfish (3,900 t), rainbow trout (3,390 t), carp (2,350 t) and pond loach (460 t) (Table 5). Finfish production is followed by mollusks (4,500 t), while much smaller volumes of crustaceans are produced. Aquaculture Products — Demand, Trade and Markets Demand and Market Trends Because Korea is a peninsula, marine products have been a traditional food source of the people. However, there has been a marked increase in consumption of marine foods in line with the FIGURE 5. Seaweed harvesting at Jeollanam-do Wanda city near Kuemdang Island. FIGURE 6. Korean rockfish sashimi. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 18) Curbing the use of moist pellets, trash fish and conventional chemicals is urgently needed. Efforts to encourage farmers to use extruded pellets and to inspire responsible and meaningful husbandry in coastal aquaculture are also needed. Alternate uses of resources, organic and integrated aquaculture could be steps towards sustainability and maintaining harmony with the alreadystressed coastal environment. Culture practices need thorough revision and a continuous synergetic approach for further development and innovation to achieve the predicted development potential of aquaculture.
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