South Korea moves – gently – into land-based salmon farming
South Korea has this week launched its first modestly sized land-based salmon farm project.
The facility has a capacity of just 500 metric tonnes of Atlantic salmon per year, and is seen as the first step towards providing a domestic salmon supply for Korea, which currently relies entirely on imports.
Through operating the 500-tonne test bed, Eco Aquafarm hopes to refine its operational know-how, and the company plans to increase production tenfold in a second phase, in which global investors will be invited to participate.
The facility has been developed by GS Engineering & Construction and operated by its subsidiary Eco Aquafarm. The Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster uses recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology delivered by the AKVA group.
The first salmon eggs were stocked in the autumn of 2024 with harvest expected in Q4 2026 after two years of cultivation.
The Busan farm is part of South Korea’s Smart Aquaculture Cluster Development Project, initiated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to modernize fish farming through digital technology.
It is also the first Korean facility to use a closed-loop filtration system, allowing reuse of up to 99% of water and reducing marine pollution.
A hybrid flow-through salmon farm, being developed elsewhere in the country as a joint venture by Norway’s Salmon Evolution and Korean group Dongwon, is still under construction.
The AKVA group has delivered RAS technology for Eco Aquafarm and provided Production Advisory Services (PAS), including training, documentation, and system optimisation.
Hyou-Sang Jin, CEO of Eco Aquafarm, said: “Through its marine special plant facilities, Eco Aquafarm seeks to realize the public interest in cultivating Atlantic salmon in eco-friendly and forward-looking RAS aquaculture facilities, developing future food to free them from future food security crises.”
Jacob Bregnballe, Sales Director for Land Based at the AKVA group said: “This project marks the start of land-based salmon production in South Korea, and we are pleased to contribute technology and support.
“Our collaboration with Eco Aquafarm includes comprehensive system delivery, training and advisory services, and we look forward to continuing the collaboration as the facility moves into full production.”
“This project marks the start of land-based salmon production in South Korea, and we are pleased to contribute with technology and support.”
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