Testbed Scheduled for Completion Within the Year... Full-Scale Shipment of 'Pohang Salmon' Targeted for 2027
Mayor Lee Kangdeok: "Establishing a Successful Model of Smart Aquaculture to Open New Opportunities for the Fisheries Industry"
The 'Smart Aquaculture Cluster Development Project' being promoted by Pohang City is progressing rapidly.
The Smart Aquaculture Cluster began in earnest after being selected for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' public contest project in 2021. Pohang City is establishing both a testbed facility and a commercial aquaculture site to develop salmon farming technology and increase productivity.
According to the city, the testbed, which began construction in October last year, has currently reached a 40% completion rate, with groundworks and seawater intake and drainage facilities already finished.
Currently, construction and earthwork for the installation of fish tanks are underway, and the project is being carried out smoothly with the goal of completion within this year.
The development of the rear site to be used as a salmon farm is also gaining speed, aiming to become the nation's first salmon aquaculture specialized complex.
After being selected for the public land reserve project in September last year, the city established the development plan and detailed design in December, and began environmental, traffic, and disaster impact assessments in February this year.
The city expects that if preliminary procedures proceed as planned, full-scale shipment of 'Pohang Salmon' will be possible starting in 2027.
Foreign investors are also paying attention to this project. On the 2nd, Mr. Ivar Sigmund Williksen, head of the Korean branch of Nils Williksen, a leading Norwegian salmon farming company, visited the project site in person to explore investment possibilities.
Nils Williksen is a global company that produces 32,000 tons of salmon annually and has a processing capacity of 70,000 tons. It is reportedly seeking overseas investment opportunities to avoid domestic regulations.
The city confirmed that the visit by Nils Williksen demonstrates that the Pohang Smart Aquaculture Cluster is attracting international attention, and expects it will have a positive impact on attracting foreign investment in the future.
On the 2nd, a representative from NilsWilkinson, a leading Norwegian salmon farming company, visited the smart aquaculture cluster project site to explore investment opportunities. Photo by Pohang City
Mayor Lee Kangdeok said, "We will reduce imports by replacing Atlantic salmon, which currently relies on more than 40,000 tons of annual imports, with Pohang Salmon, and create a successful model of smart aquaculture to open new opportunities for the local economy and fisheries industry. We will focus administrative capabilities on building the Smart Aquaculture Cluster."
Pohang City plans to further accelerate the project by holding a 'Salmon Aquaculture Specialized Complex Development and Implementation Plan Kick-off Briefing' on the 14th.
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