Jeonbuk Province Releases 450,000 Loaches, Its Representative Health Food Fish

Jeonbuk Provincial Fisheries Technology Institute released 450,000 loach fry into two rivers, including Gwanghalcheon in Gimje, on the 5th. Photo by Jeonbuk Province

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Gominhyeong] Jeonbuk Province has undertaken the mass release of loaches, a representative health food, to foster fishery resources.

The Provincial Fisheries Technology Research Institute (Director Jeon Byeong-gwon) announced that on the 5th, it released 450,000 loach fry, produced in-house, into two rivers: 250,000 into Gwanghalcheon in Gimje and 200,000 into Jujincheon in Gochang, aiming to increase income for farmers and fishers and to revitalize the inland water industry.

The loach fry released on this day were selected from healthy broodstock secured in April and May, and raised to a healthy size of over 4 cm using the province's patented technology. They are expected to contribute as a source of income for local farmers and fishers.

With an annual domestic consumption of about 10,000 tons, loaches are continuously released as a fishery seed species, with approximately 1.2 million loach fry released every year into rivers across 14 cities and counties within the province.

Loaches have a habit of digging into the riverbed to catch small aquatic animals, supplying oxygen to the riverbed and improving water quality. They are also known to consume over 1,000 mosquito larvae per day, making them effective for eco-friendly pest control near urban areas.

Jeon Byeong-gwon, Director of the Jeonbuk Provincial Fisheries Technology Research Institute, stated, “We plan to release an additional 740,000 fry in a second phase into four more cities and counties.”