Busan is good

Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster Becomes First in Korea to Produce and Ship Atlantic Salmon

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will hold a tasting event at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, September 30, at the smart aquaculture farm in Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun, to commemorate the first shipment of Atlantic salmon, as Busan becomes the first of the six smart aquaculture cluster development projects nationwide to achieve the production and shipment of farmed seafood.

The event, organized by Eco Aquafarm Co., Ltd., will bring together representatives from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Metropolitan Council, and other relevant organizations, as well as stakeholders in the smart aquaculture sector. Participants will share updates on the project’s progress and be introduced to Atlantic salmon produced in Busan for the first time.

The event will feature welcoming remarks, a report on the project’s progress, congratulatory remarks, commemorative performances including a salmon filleting show, a tasting session, and a tour of the aquaculture facility.

The Atlantic salmon being shipped for the first time were produced at the testbed of the Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster, which was developed through a combination of central government funding, municipal funding, and private investment.

The Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster was developed at the Fisheries Science Institute of Pukyong National University in Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun, with a total project cost of KRW 40 billion and was completed in 2024.

The facility applies advanced smart aquaculture technologies, including a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) that enables environmentally friendly land-based farming. Eyed eggs stocked in the second half of 2024 were raised at the facility and are now being shipped for the first time.

This first shipment is particularly significant because it marks the first time among the six smart aquaculture cluster development projects underway nationwide that the entire process from the actual production of farmed seafood through shipment has been completed.

The Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster is a next-generation aquaculture facility that integrates advanced information and communications technology with automation and intelligent systems. This achievement represents the first case in which a public-private partnership combining central government funding, municipal funding, and private investment has resulted in the actual production and shipment of seafood.

Building on this achievement, Busan Metropolitan City plans to promote the commercialization of smart aquaculture technologies, support related regulatory improvements and technological development, and foster Busan as a leading city for the smart aquaculture industry.

The first shipment is also expected to pave the way for the full-scale market launch of Atlantic salmon produced in Busan and the expansion of the domestic production and supply base.

As Atlantic salmon consumed in Korea currently relies heavily on imports, expanding a stable domestic production base for Atlantic salmon is expected to help replace imported salmon and diversify the domestic seafood supply chain.

In addition, systematic management of the production environment through land-based smart aquaculture is expected to enable a stable supply of safe, high-quality seafood.

Shim Jae-min, Assistant Mayor of Maritime Capital Strategy Office, said, “This first shipment of Atlantic salmon is a significant achievement, as it is the first among the six smart aquaculture cluster development projects nationwide to lead to actual production and shipment. Starting with this tasting event, we will do our utmost to support the full-scale introduction of Busan-produced Atlantic salmon to the market and help Busan emerge as a city that leads smart aquaculture technology and industry.”