Jeonbuk Institute of Fisheries Technology Releases 35,000 Juvenile Sogari

"Expectations for Restoration of Inland Fisheries Resources
and Increased Income for Local Fishers"

On July 2, the Jeonbuk Provincial Institute of Fisheries Technology will release 35,000 juvenile Sogari (Korean perch) free of charge into water systems in three cities and counties within the province, including Namwon, Wanju, and Buan.

According to the Institute, this free release initiative was implemented to simultaneously restore inland fisheries resources and increase the income of local fishers.

Jeonbuk Provincial Office building exterior. Provided by Jeonbuk Province

The Sogari being released are healthy individuals approximately 3 cm in total length. They are bred from broodstock that are over three years old and have undergone artificial spawning and fertilization at the institute, followed by about 30 days of rearing. Only those that have passed disease inspection by the Fisheries Products Safety Center and have been deemed suitable for ecological settlement are selectively released.

Sogari, a carnivorous species, inhabits clear, slow-flowing mid- to downstream river sections or reservoirs, living among gravel and rocks. Ecologically, it preys on harmful invasive species such as bass and bluegill. It is also highly valued as a high-value-added species due to its strong demand and high market price for use as sashimi and in spicy fish stew, making it an important source of income for fishers.

Since 2011, the Jeonbuk Institute of Fisheries Technology has been actively releasing Sogari juveniles, with a cumulative total of 428,000 released into the province's rivers and reservoirs by 2024. In addition to the ongoing release program, since 2023 the institute has also been conducting a 'Sogari Recirculating Aquaculture System High-Density Farming Pilot Study.'

This project aims to develop technology that increases the adaptation rate of Sogari, a carnivorous species with strict feed requirements, to formulated feed using a recirculating aquaculture system that allows water reuse, while also enabling high-density farming in limited spaces.

Jeon Byungkwon, Director of the Jeonbuk Institute of Fisheries Technology, stated, "By continuously producing and releasing various types of fish seed, including Sogari, we expect not only to increase the income of local fishers but also to contribute to the restoration of inland aquatic ecosystems and the control of harmful fish species. We will continue to systematize the management foundation for fisheries resources to realize sustainable fisheries policies."