WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2025 9 CHAPTER REPORTS infection and the robustness of Korea’s aquatic animal disease prevention and quarantine systems, WOAH granted the disease-free status. With this latest achievement, Korea has become the first country in the world to hold disease-free status for seven specific infectious diseases across three major aquatic animal sectors: Fish: Infectious Salmon Anemia (2019), Gyrodactylosis (2020), Salmonid Alphavirus Infection (2023). Mollusks: Abalone Herpesvirus Infection (2021), Xenohaliotis californiensis Infection (2025). Crustaceans: Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis (2022), Yellowhead Disease (2024). Minister Kang Do-Hyung stated, “By achieving this seventh disease-free status, Korea’s excellence and high standards in aquatic animal disease management have once again been internationally recognized. In the future, we will continue to strictly manage aquatic animal infectious diseases and advance related technologies, ensuring a safe and secure Korea free from aquatic animal disease.” MOF Holds Eel Fry Stocking Event A total of 440,000 eel fry was released into major inland waterways over 10 days starting June 20. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-Hyung) announced that beginning June 20, with the release of 100,000 eel fry in the Jangseong Dam area of Jeollanam-do, it would be conducting the “Nationwide Eel Fry Release Week.” Over the course of 10 days, a total of 440,000 young eels were released across seven local governments. The release locations were Goyang, Paju, Yangpyeong, Pocheon (Gyeonggi-do), Chuncheon, Gangneung, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje (Gangwon-do), Jecheon, Boeun, Danyang (Chungcheongbuk-do), Asan (Chungcheongnam-do), Buan (Jeollabuk-do), Jangseong, Haenam (Jeollanam-do), and Andong (Gyeongsangbuk-do). This event, organized primarily by industry, was the first joint initiative between the public and private sectors involved. The government (MOF and seven local governments) and the private sector (eel fish farms and producer organizations) collaborated to promote the recovery of inland water resources and maximize the impact of eel seeding projects that individual local governments had previously implemented. Eel farming in Korea generates an annual output of 514 billion KRW (USD $369.1 million) as of 2024, accounting for about 74% of the total inland fisheries production. This makes it a leading inland fishery industry with a steadily increasing share each year. Eels are a typical catadromous fish species that live in freshwater and migrate to the sea to spawn. They spawn in the deep sea near the Philippines, and the hatched glass eels then migrate back to Korea, China, and Japan. Since eel farming in Korea relies on catching juvenile eels that migrate to the country or importing them from China and Taiwan, continuous resource management for this species is essential. Recently, international organizations such as CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) have been actively discussing restrictions on the international trade of Far Eastern eels migrating to Korea, highlighting the urgent need for policy-level responses. Against this backdrop, the MOF launched this nationwide release initiative as part of its mid- to long-term strategy to increase eel fry resources in Korean waters and to highlight Korea’s efforts in resource recovery and management, both domestically and internationally. The event is particularly significant as it involves voluntary participation from the private sector. For example, the 100,000 juveniles released at Jangseong Dam were purchased by the Korea Freshwater Eel Producers’ Association, using what would otherwise have been stocked in private farms. Release sites were carefully selected as optimal habitats by the National Institute of Fisheries Science’s Central Inland Fisheries Research Center after reviewing major inland water systems. Local governments cooperated with local fishers to carry out the releases successfully. Meanwhile, on June 5, MOF inaugurated the “Public-Private Eel Fry Consultative Council” with eight provincial governments, the National Institute of Fisheries Science, the Korea Maritime Institute, the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, the Korea Freshwater Eel Aquaculture Cooperative, and the Korea Freshwater Eel Producers’ Association. The council coordinates eel fry stocking activities and addresses broader issues facing aquaculture farms, such as resource recovery, eel supply-demand management, policy responses to international trade restrictions, and improvements in aquaculture stocking systems. Minister Kang Do-Hyung stated, “Through this eel fry release initiative, we not only aim to promote resource recovery but also help stabilize incomes for inland fishers and revitalize local economies. In the future, the government will continue joint efforts with the private sector and actively pursue ecological restoration projects — including river ecosystem recovery and habitat improvement initiatives.” Sources: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Press Releases of June 19, July 3, July 28 and August 7 2025. — Han-kyu Lim, President CALLING ALL READERS DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD AQUACULTURE? We’d love to see it! We welcome general features, articles and news covering a variety of aquaculture-related topics, preferably well-illustrated with photographs and line art. Published quarterly, the magazine keeps WAS members up to date with research results and reviews of aquaculture trends and topics. You do not need to be a member of the Society and there are no page charges. Guidelines for authors are available here. Submit manuscripts to C. Greg Lutz, Editor in Chief, at glutz@agcenter.lsu.edu or Cecilia Castellanos Nichols, ed.assistant@was.org when emailing your submission.
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