The current status and future directions of Korean inland freshwater aquaculture

우리나라 내수면 양식업의 현황 및 발전방향에 관한 소고

In terms of the size of aquaculture farms and production volume, inland freshwater aquaculture is much smaller than marine aquaculture in Korea. However, freshwater aquaculture provides fish which is not produced in the sea. Freshwater aquaculture plays an important role in the efficient use of resources, development of local areas and economy vitalization in under - developed areas. freshwater aquaculture also helps ecosystem recovery by stocking farmed fry. As addressed above, inland freshwater aquaculture plays various roles and can not be ignored. However, freshwater aquaculture has been off the interest of fisheries authority. Considering a series of changes in the circumstances such as the government's disapproval of pen - raised aquaculture, higher standard for discharged water from aquaculture farms and a rapid increase in import of low price fish from other countries, it is difficult to expect the quantitative expansion of the freshwater aquaculture any more. Furthermore, freshwater aquaculture lost the trust of people because of the use of Malachite green, and the consumption of farmed product plummeted last year. Even though it would be difficult to expect the quantitative expansion, we could expect qualitative growth and let the inland freshwater aquaculture keep playing the own roles. In order to achieve competitive advantage and regain the trust by providing safer farmed product, the government's support and freshwater aquaculture industry's active and voluntary efforts are very important. This paper suggests several points for the future oriented inland freshwater aquaculture in Korea such as strategic intensive development of selected species, the technical improvement and its diffusion, increased cooperation among the government authority, industry and scientists.