30 Projects Including Disaster Prevention and Cultivation of Promising Species
A panoramic view of the seaweed farm installed in Dohwa-myeon, Goheung. Provided by Jeonnam Province
Jeollanam-do will invest 57.2 billion KRW this year to promote 30 projects for the sustainable development of the fisheries industry and the cultivation of eco-friendly aquaculture. These projects include establishing eco-friendly aquaculture production infrastructure, responding to fisheries disasters and preventing diseases, and focusing on the development of promising aquaculture species.
To build an eco-friendly aquaculture production base, a budget of 20.6 billion KRW will be allocated to 19 projects. The province will foster a robust seed industry through the construction of a fisheries seed commercialization center and improvement of seed production facilities. In addition, large-scale advanced eco-friendly aquaculture complexes such as the Smart Aquaculture Cluster and the Yellow Croaker Aquaculture Industrialization Center will be expanded.
In particular, the Smart Aquaculture Cluster in Sinan-gun is being promoted with the aim of completion this year. To address labor shortages caused by the aging population and declining numbers in fishing villages, automation equipment for aquaculture farms will be supplied, and the employment of foreign seasonal workers will be supported. For the first time, the public seasonal labor program in Haenam-gun was selected for a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries public contest project this year, which is expected to revitalize labor supply in fishing communities.
To establish a stable production system for Gim, Jeollanam-do's representative export food, land-based seeding and frozen net storage facilities, as well as smart seed cultivation facilities, will be established. The development of a new activation treatment agent to protect the farming environment and produce high-quality Gim has been completed and will be supplied to Gim aquaculture farmers.
Additionally, 30.3 billion KRW will be invested in six projects to respond to fisheries disasters and prevent diseases. To prepare for recurring natural disasters such as high and low water temperatures and red tides, aquaculture disaster insurance premiums will be supported at up to 90%, the highest level in the country. Response equipment such as liquid oxygen suppliers and shading nets will continue to be distributed. In particular, vaccines and immune boosters, which are in high demand among aquaculture farmers, will be supplied more widely to prevent damage to aquaculture organisms.
To foster promising, high-income aquaculture species with strong market potential, five projects will receive 6.3 billion KRW in support. Beneficial microorganisms will be supplied to shrimp farms to improve productivity and prevent disease, and the development of aquaculture farms for promising species using idle water surfaces will continue.
Efforts will also be made to shift to species that are resilient to climate change by supporting the release of cockle seeds, a regionally specialized species, and subsidizing the purchase of seeds for species such as yellow croaker and groupers that are resistant to high water temperatures.
To transition from traditional oyster farming methods to the more environmentally friendly and high value-added individual oyster industry, individual oyster seed production and seawater sterilization facilities will be established. This will lay the groundwork for expanding exports and fostering strategic items through hygienic and stable production.
Jeon Changwoo, Director of the Eco-Friendly Fisheries Division of Jeollanam-do, said, "We will continue to expand the eco-friendly aquaculture base so that fishermen can stably produce high-quality seafood."
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