WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2023 11 CHAPTER REPORTS Strategies for Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Land-based Fish Aquaculture Dr. Chang Mo Ma, Project Leader and Head of the Fisheries Policy Research Department, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), presented “A Study on Strategies for Achieving Carbon Neutrality in the Aquaculture Industry - Focusing on Land-based Fish Aquaculture” at the Marine and Fisheries session of the 2023 KMI Policy Research Performance Report in Sejong in April. He suggested response strategies for the aquaculture industry in the era of carbon neutrality, such as integrated carbon emissions management. The realization of carbon neutrality to respond to the climate crisis is emerging as a global need. He stressed the need to work towards the realization of carbon neutrality actively. The specific details of the response strategy for the aquaculture industry in the era of carbon neutrality proposed by KMI were: 1) integrated management of carbon emissions from land farms, 2) Data, Network, and Artificial intelligence (DNA)-based onshore fish farm carbon reduction, 3) development of low-carbon feed for fish farming, 4) improving farmed fish distribution inefficiency, and 5) diversification of renewable energy supply. Lastly, he insisted on maintaining the aquaculture industry with sustainable growth and being chosen by consumers in the global trend of realizing carbon neutrality. The aquaculture industry must achieve its goal of securing the highest level of carbon competitiveness, which produces minor carbon emissions per kilogram of all animal protein sources. He proposed establishing a low-carbon aquaculture product certification foundation and production system. It is also necessary to take a mid- to long-term approach, such as managing carbon emissions by farming stage and production method. Canada Approves the Korean System of Oyster Sanitary Certification As a result of an equivalence evaluation of the Korea Shellfish Sanitation Program (KSSP) conducted by Canadian sanitation authorities, Korea will now be able to export frozen oysters to Canada. The KSSP is a comprehensive sanitation management plan for shellfish for export, established to ensure the safety of shellfish exported to the United States and the European Union and to meet the sanitation management standards required by the importing country. Canada notified Korea that, if it wants to continue exporting frozen oysters, it must prove that its shellfish hygiene management system is at the same level as the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) of Canada, which came into force in 2019. Afterward, Canada reviewed prior written data on the KSSP and interviewed staff on sanitation management in designated sea areas, frozen oyster processing facilities and overall laboratory operation status. The Canadian health authorities determined that the KSSP was being adequately operated and officially delivered a final opinion that frozen oysters were suitable for continued export to Canada. This equivalence evaluation is the Canadian health authorities’ first official recognition of Korea’s frozen oyster hygiene management system. It is expected to serve as an opportunity to expand oyster exports to Canada. U.S. FDA Approves Korean System of Shellfish Hygiene Management A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection team has concluded that Korea’s shellfish hygiene management had made significant progress over the past six years, so oyster exports to the US are expected to expand. The FDA recognized the sanitary management of shellfish in Korea. The FDA inspected Korea’s shellfish hygiene management system and tentatively evaluated that there had been significant progress in shellfish hygiene management in Korea over the past six years. By the ‘Korea-US Shellfish Sanitation Agreement,’ signed in 1972 and the ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Sanitary Control of Shellfish Exported to the US,’ renewed in 2015, the US FDA conducts regular sanitary inspections of shellfish production areas in Korea every two years and evaluates the inspection results and the implementation of improvement measures for non-conforming items to determine whether to continue exporting Korean shellfish to the US. This inspection was conducted for the first time in six years since 2017 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA inspection team conducted a thorough on-site inspection of the overall hygiene management system for shellfish exported to the US, including managing hazardous factors that can cause food poisoning and hygiene management in export facilities. As a result, the FDA inspection team determined that all items of the shellfish hygiene management system in Korea were suitable for exporting shellfish to the US. For comprehensive hygiene management of shellfish in the future, detailed recommendations were presented, such as the replacement of ultraviolet disinfection devices at sewage treatment plants before the time of shellfish export to the US, periodic hygiene checks and record management of port and inlet toilets and seaside public restrooms. Korea will be notified about the FDA’s final evaluation results two to three months after the inspection team returns to Korea. Based on the results of this evaluation, oyster exports, currently valued at about US$80 million/year, are expected to expand. The 12th Gim’s Day (Laver Day) Ceremony The MOF held the 12th Gim’s Day Ceremony with officials from the Gim (laver) Industry, including the Korea Gim Industry Association Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do in April. The Korea Gim (Laver) Industry Association designated lunar January 15 as Gim’s Day to commemorate the achievement of $100 million in Gim exports in 2010 and to continue the tradition of Wrapping a Fortune with Gim (laver) on New Year’s Full Moon Day. The “Gim’s Day” celebration has been held every year since 2011 to enhance the pride of Gim farmers and revitalize the industry. About 2,000 people, including the Korea Gim Industry Association workers, the MOF, and local government officials, attended this year’s ceremony. The event awarded commendations to those who contributed to leading the export of Korean fisheries products by recording $650 million in Gim (laver) exports with 70 percent of the global market share despite global logistics difficulties last year. There were various side events including a laver cooking performance, an exhibition of the nation’s top ten Gim brands and a promotional event for local specialties in Goheung-gun. Future Strategic Item Selection Workshop for the Aquaculture Industry The MOF held the ‘Future Strategic Item Selection Workshop (CONTINUED ON PAGE 13)
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