Busan ships first smart-farmed Atlantic salmon in South Korea

Busan has become the first city in South Korea to produce and ship Atlantic salmon from a smart fish farm, the city government said Tuesday.

The salmon were raised at the Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster testbed, built in 2024 at the Fisheries Science Research Institute of Pukyong National University in Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun. The facility was developed with a total investment of 40 billion won ($29.4 million) drawn from national and municipal budgets as well as private capital.

The farm uses advanced smart aquaculture technology, including a recirculating aquaculture system that enables eco-friendly land-based fish farming. The salmon were hatched from fertilized eggs stocked in the second half of 2024 and have now been shipped for the first time. This marks the first time any of the six smart aquaculture cluster projects underway nationwide has completed the full cycle from production to shipment of an actual farmed seafood product. The six sites cover Atlantic salmon in Busan's Gijang-gun, shrimp in South Jeolla Province's Sinan, salmon in Gangneung and Yangyang in Gangwon Province, salmon in Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province, flounder in Jeju, and sea trout in Dangjin in South Chungcheong Province.

Building on this achievement, the city plans to accelerate the commercialization of smart aquaculture technology, support related regulatory improvements and research and development, and position Busan as a hub for the smart aquaculture industry.

The inaugural shipment is expected to pave the way for Busan-grown Atlantic salmon to enter the market in earnest and expand the domestic production and supply base. South Korea currently relies heavily on imports for its Atlantic salmon consumption, and a stable domestic production base could substitute for imported salmon and diversify the country's seafood supply chain. Land-based smart aquaculture is also expected to enable a steady supply of safe, high-quality seafood.

"This first shipment of Atlantic salmon is a meaningful achievement — the first among the six national smart aquaculture cluster projects to complete actual production and delivery," said Shim Jae-min, head of the city's Ocean Capital Strategy Office. "We will do our utmost to bring Busan-grown Atlantic salmon to market in full force and to support Busan's emergence as a city leading smart aquaculture technology and industry."

The city will hold a tasting event Wednesday afternoon at the smart fish farm in Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun, to mark the first shipment. Organized by aquaculture company Eco Aqua Farm Co., the event will be attended by officials from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Busan city government, the Busan City Council, and smart aquaculture industry representatives. It will feature the debut of Busan-produced Atlantic salmon, along with a salmon-filleting demonstration and other commemorative performances, tastings, and a facility tour.