Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, Goes 'All In' on Smart Fisheries Project... 42.3 Billion KRW Invested in 94 Future Advanced Aquaculture Projects

Detailed Project Implementation for Six Key Strategic Areas

Aerial view of Bangseok Port fishing village New Deal in Pohang City.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yeo Jong-gu] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, is set to actively promote a project worth 40 billion KRW to realize smart fisheries.

On the 27th, the city announced that it will invest 42.3 billion KRW in 94 projects under the vision of "Realizing Smart Fisheries and Creating Happy Fishing Villages Worth Living In."

To achieve this, six key strategies have been established: △ Expanding large-scale advanced aquaculture infrastructure by integrating 4th Industrial Revolution technologies △ Creating premium fishing villages with good living conditions through regional hub fishing villages (Fishing Village New Deal) △ Supporting safe fishing operations and eradicating illegal fishing △ Developing fishery resources and proactively responding to fishery disasters △ Building differentiated fishery product distribution platforms and promoting non-face-to-face consumption △ Creating vibrant fishing villages full of youth.

In detail, to expand advanced aquaculture infrastructure applying 4th Industrial Revolution and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), projects such as the Smart Aquaculture Cluster and Fishery ICT Convergence Technology Development and Demonstration are being promoted.

The "Smart Aquaculture Cluster" was selected last year as a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries public project. With an investment of 40 billion KRW by 2025, it is expected to greatly contribute to revitalizing the local economy through the domestic consumption of salmon and the export-oriented aquaculture industry.

The "Fishery ICT Convergence Technology Development and Demonstration Project" applies ICT technology to two existing aging aquaculture farms to respond to natural disasters and improve productivity through facility modernization. It started last year and plans to invest 3 billion KRW over three years.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries national projects, "Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project" and "General Agricultural and Fishing Village Development Project," are development projects aimed at improving residential conditions and revitalizing underdeveloped fishing villages and ports. Since 2018, projects have been underway in five ports including Sinchang 2-ri and in the Guryongpo and Homigot areas.

A new-concept eco-friendly multipurpose administrative vessel (127 tons) is being constructed with an investment of 8 billion KRW, targeting completion in September. It will be actively used for illegal fishing monitoring, maritime accident prevention, and marine-related investment briefings.

To modernize fishing vessels and supply safety equipment, six fishing vessel equipment support projects, including eco-friendly energy-saving devices and fishing vessel accident prevention systems, are being promoted to increase fishermen's income.

Plans are in place to protect and nurture fishery resources across coastal waters by actively restoring coastal ecosystems through the creation of coastal sea ranches, sea forests, and coastal seaweed farms, including artificial reef installation, feeding grounds creation, and release of larvae and seeds.

Additionally, to prevent fishery disasters such as red tides and high water temperatures, support will be provided for bottom seawater supply facilities, liquefied oxygen, circulation pumps, and disease prevention vaccines to minimize damage to aquaculture farmers.

In line with the trend toward a non-face-to-face society, fishery product consumption promotion projects will also be supported.

In the fishery product distribution and processing sectors, which are particularly vulnerable to changes such as reduced sales channels due to COVID-19 and sharp declines in consumer sentiment due to economic downturns, projects such as support for fishery product processing facilities, activation of fishery product distribution and processing industries (brand development, HACCP facility support, etc.), and fishery product delivery fee support will be implemented.

A project to revitalize fishing villages by attracting youth is being promoted. Recently, the number of urban residents and young people wishing to return to fishing villages through startups has steadily increased, and plans are to increase the population in fishing village areas through business consulting, information provision, business support, and follow-up management.

Starting this year, through a new project to create houses for returnees to fishing villages, temporary residential spaces will be supported in two fishing village areas to allow actual experience of fishing village life, easing housing cost burdens and encouraging settlement in fishing villages.

In the fishery sector, to transition to eco-friendly industries for carbon neutrality and green growth, projects are underway to replace old fishing vessel engines and equipment, support eco-friendly energy-saving devices, replace eco-friendly buoys in aquaculture farms, supply eco-friendly fishery feed, and support eco-friendly energy supply facilities.

The multipurpose administrative vessel currently under construction is also being equipped with a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) to comply with the government's eco-friendly ship conversion policy.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang said, "We will do our best to promote fishery policy projects in a timely manner to improve the quality of life for fishermen and help increase their actual income."