6 SEPTEMBER 2019 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Initiation of Mass Production of Yellow Croaker Fry The Jeollanam-do Ocean and Fisheries Science Institute (OSFI) produced and distributed fertilized eggs of yellow croaker from seed producers to participating fish farmers for mass production. Yellow croaker is one of the most favorite fishes in Korea. The demand for yellow croaker has been increasing because of the high value of about 20,000 won/kg (about US$17/kg). The yield from fisheries reduced from 59,326 tons in 2011 to 23,274 tons in 2018. The OSFI operates the West Sea Specialty Goods Test Center in Yeonggwang, the famous site of dried yellow croaker (gulbi) and has carried out tests and research on industrialization such as technology for breeding, seed production and shortening the culture period. As a result, it is now possible to produce yellow croaker in a single year (6-8 months). Since the first success of seed production in 2005, aquaculture technology development has been continuously pursued to achieve the growth and industrialization of gulbi. Last March, 37,000 cm3 of fertilized eggs were produced and distributed to five seed producers located in Yeonggwang and Hampyeong. Developing Year-round Aquaculture Production Technology for the Convict Grouper The Jeollanam-do Ocean and Fisheries Science Institute (OSFI) announced that it will select the high-performance strategic fish as a high-income strategic species and promote the development of land-based aquaculture technology to promote aquaculture industrialization of convict grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus (aka Hyporthodus septemfasciatus). Convict grouper is a subtropical fish that has been produced only in some limited areas such as Geomun-do on the south coast. The production was 292 tons nationwide in 2018, with value of 7.5 billion won (about US$6.3 million). Jeollanam-do region’s production was 118 tons (3 billion won, about US$2.5 million), accounting for 40 percent of the country’s production. Half of fry stocked in cages in September-October died due to low water temperatures over the winter. Research was initiated to determine the low temperature limits for the species. Jeollanam-do OFSI is developing a recirculating aquaculture system as a midstage culture technique that holds fish and larvae on land in winter when water temperature is low. This is to eliminate production difficulties by reducing the early mortality of high-priced seedlings that cost 2,500 won (about US$2) per fish. As the sea surface water temperature in Korea rises due to climate change, the necessity of developing high valueadded subtropical varieties that can adapt to the environment is increasing. In fact, the sea surface temperature around the Korean peninsula has risen by 1.23 C in the last 50 years or 2.5 times the world average. The goal is to increase productivity while reducing costs by shortening the production period. Mass Production Technology for Common Cockle The Chungnam-do Fisheries Resources Research Institute (FRRI) has succeeded in developing a technology that can artificially hatch common cockle Cerastoderma edule in large quantities. The cockle is a representative winter seafood on the west coast because of its chewy texture and sea-flavored taste. After peak production of 1,156 tons in 2003, it has decreased and, after 2012, production fell so sharply that it was not reported in official statistics. Last year, Hongseong-gun unofficially compiled a fisheries ground management survey and reported only about 100 tons of production. The FRRI considered the broodstock resource to have collapsed and that the sharp decrease in production was caused by reckless overfishing and the rise in water temperature due to climate change. Under these circumstances, the FRRI started to develop artificial hatchery technology in 2016 using broodstock from local waters and secured the artificial settling technology this year, the fourth year of the study. In 2017, the FRRI succeeded in developing artificial maturation induction technology and established a floating larval management technology with a feeding system. Last year, the institute confirmed the lowest degree of broodstock condition for gonad development and developed the seed production and rearing technology of 2-mm spat through a pilot study of seed production. As a result, the FRRI succeeded in producing young cockles by inducing mass artificial spawning. Based on this, the FRRI started a cockle recovery project in Cheonsu Bay, with upgrading of production technology and full-scale farming research. The development of mass production technology of cockle spat has the potential to restore cockle resources and increase the potential for full aquaculture. Coastal Rocky Shore Clean-Up by FIRA South Seas Headquarters The Korea Fisheries Resources Agency (FIRA) South Sea Headquarters announced that it has carried out a project with fishermen to clean the coastal rock beds to restore seaweed resources along the Ando intertidal zone in Yeosu. “Rock cleaning” involves removing organisms such as barnacles that live on intertidal rocks before the time of seaweed spore release so that desirable seaweeds can attach. The FIRA South Seas Headquarters has cleaned 37 ha of shoreline in five areas over the past three years. This year, rock cleaning was conducted with fishermen to identify problems and difficulties in the field and included gear inspections and customized safety training to prevent accidents of participating fishermen before the work. The goal of the tidal rocky shore cleaning project is to enhance fishing income and recover fisheries by restoring high-value seaweed resources. Promoting the Korean Federation of Fisheries Seed Industry Associations A representative body to advocate for the development and profit of the domestic fisheries seed industry has been established. Korean Chapter CHAPTER REPORTS
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