NIFS announced that it notified each local government of the results of fisheries environment assessment 2024 that was conducted on 25 entities out of 293 nationwide fish cage farms (as of '23). 

*A total of 25 entities were the subject to the 2024 assessment : Jeollanam-do(15), Gyeongsangnam-do(4), Gyeongsangbuk-do(3), Chungcheongnam-do(1), Jeju Island(1), and Incheon(1). 

In the result were nine fish cage farms for Grade 1, six for Grade 2, eight for Grade 3, and two for Grade 4. Among these, Grade 3-4 accounted for about 40%. 

In case of Grade 1-2 fish cage farms, they are able to extend the validity of license within 10 years, but Grade 3-4 fish cage farms should extend the validity of license within five and four years, repectively as well as take measures to improve the environmental conditions of fish farms such as to clean fishing grounds, change the location of the facilities, etc. 

Under the Fishing Ground Managment Act, NIFS has conducted fisheries environment assessment using the total organic carbon (TOC) in sediments and benthic health index one year prior to the date when the license for fish cage farms expires, and the NIFS noticed the local governemnts such as mayor, head of a Gu, and head of a Gun of the assessment result (Grade 1-4). 

*Total organic carbon (TOC) is a chemical indicator that measures the degree of organic pollution. It is obtained by subtracting the measured inorganic carbon from the measured total carbon, which is the sum of organic carbon and inorganic carbon. 

**Benthic health index (BHI) is a biological index that measures the degree of organic pollution in sediments based on the relative distribution ratio of benthic animals that are resistant and not resistant to organic pollution. 

Starting from 2024, the subject of the assessment will be extended from to every culture farms as well as their species from fish cage farms on the sidelines with the review and assessment of aquafarming license.

*The extension of the subject of fisheries environment assessment including fish, shellfish, seaweed, polyculture, cooperation aquaculture, open-sea cultivation, etc. 

Meanwhile, the result from the 11-year fisheries environment assessment since 2014 on 211 entities showed 115 entities for Grade 1-2 (54%) and 96 entities for Grade 3-4 (about 46%). In case of Grade3-4 farms, particularly, they turned out to be located in the semi-enclosed inner bays with a shallow water depth and weak water exchange capacities. 

In the re-assessment (2019-2024) on 25 entities that took actions to improve the environment of fish cage farms as well as to extend the validity of the license after classified as Grade 3-4 in the 2014-2020 assessment, the nine entities (two for Grade 3, seven for Grade 4) had been upgraded by one grade each, showing that there was an effect of improving the environment of fish farms.