[New Jobs] If the prized farmed flatfish is sick... There is a specialist

Aquatic Animal Disease Manager Caring for Farmed Fish
Early Prevention of Mortality from High Temperature and Parasites
60% of Fish on the Table Are Farmed Fish

Editor's NoteWith super-aging and ultra-low birth rates, along with the advent of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era, new changes are occurring in the world of occupations. We introduce the world of new jobs that open paths for new challenges in working life or a second act in life.

Where do the fish we enjoy eating, such as flatfish and rockfish, come from? Most people would think of fishing boats, but in fact, 6 out of 10 fish on our tables come from fish farms. According to data from the Korea Maritime Institute, as of 2022, domestic aquaculture production reached 2.27 million tons, with a production value of 3.3843 trillion won, accounting for 62.9% of all seafood.

Flatfish Sashimi. Not related to the main text.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In other words, without fish farms, the seafood supply chain would face serious risks. However, recently, fish farms are facing overlapping crises. Rising water temperatures due to climate change and the activation of parasites threaten farmed fish. This is why 'fish doctors' who can diagnose farmed fish in real time and protect them from diseases are needed.

Aquatic Disease Managers Treating Farmed Fish Diseases

Minister Kang Do-hyung of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries visited an offshore cage aquaculture farm located in Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do on the 28th of last month to inspect the preparedness for summer disaster responses such as high water temperatures, red tides, and typhoons. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Aquatic Disease Manager is a national certification first introduced in 2004. Those who have graduated or are expected to graduate from departments related to aquatic biomedical sciences can take the exam, and after obtaining the license, they can find employment in various occupations related to fish farms. Alternatively, they can open and operate their own fish clinics.

Fish farms have the advantage of raising fish in a controlled environment, unlike the open sea, but maintaining a stable environment in fish farms is by no means easy. Diseases can spread among fish, or parasites can emerge. Aquatic Disease Managers examine dead fish to detect diseases and parasites early, and are responsible for treatment and prevention.

Disease managers employed by companies also develop fish vaccines and treatments, and some work as public officials at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries or local government aquatic disease centers. As domestic aquaculture grows, the demand for Aquatic Disease Managers is rapidly increasing. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 108 new managers passed the national Aquatic Disease Manager exam last February.

Climate Change Puts Farmed Fish at Risk... 'Fish Doctors' Increasingly Valuable

Although unfamiliar to the general public, the role of Aquatic Disease Managers is expected to become even more important in the current situation where food security is emphasized more than ever in the era of climate change.

In fact, the biggest challenge facing fish farms today is climate change. This summer alone, many fish farms have suffered damage due to sudden abnormal high temperatures. For example, in Jeju, the number of farmed flatfish dying from high water temperatures has been rapidly increasing over the past four years. The number of dead fish was 58,000 in 2020 but surged more than 15 times to 931,000 last year.

Parasites are also a headache. Various parasites such as Scuticociliates in flatfish, Trichodina in catfish, Myxosporea in carp species, and Ichthyophthirius in sea bream can cause mass deaths of farmed fish in an instant. According to the Aquatic Animal Quarantine Center, it is rare for wild fish in natural habitats to be wiped out by parasites. However, in the artificial environment of fish farms, even a small number of parasites can be fatal.

Especially as wild fish catch decreases and dependence on farmed fish for seafood increases, fish overcrowding in farms is expected to worsen. The more fish in a farm, the greater the damage caused by parasites. This is why early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment by experts are necessary.