NIFS announced that a workshop on the expansion of formulated feed usage will be held at Signiel Busan (hotel) on April 10 (Thur.) joined by around 100 people from private-industry-academia-institute-government entities; including fish farmers, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), local governments, feed companies, relevant organizations, universities, etc. 

The workshop is held to discuss on how to increase the use of formulated feeds while sharing relevant policy directions as well as R&D status. 

The workshop consists of two parts: Part I will be the time for three presenters to give their presentations each on the policy direction for formulated feed 2025 by MOF's Aquaculture Industry Division, on the R&D status by NIFS's Aquafeed Research Center, and on the development of low-fish meal feeds* by Jeju National University; and Part II will be continued with an in-depth roundtable discussion on how to solve the challenges that formulated feeds face aiming at extending into the increasing adoption of formulated feeds.

*Low-fish meal feeds are formulated aquaculture feeds that reduce reliance on fishmeal, using plant-based and other alternative animal protein sources to meet the nutritional needs of fish. 

For now, domestic fish farms provide raw feeds and formulated feeds in parallel. However, concerns about fishmeal sustainability, increasing costs, etc. under the changes in marine environment caused by climate change require the government to actively encourage the use of formulated feeds. To that end, the government implements Direct Payment System and loan support with annual interest rate at 1 percent (%). 

Unfortunately, however, formulated feeds accounted for a meager 27 percent (%) of feeds for fish farming in 2024. Behind the low adoption lie the high price of formulated feeds compared to raw feeds, relatively slow growth rate, etc. In regard to olive flounder, particularly, as the selling price of olive flounder fed formulated feeds is much lower than ones fed raw feeds, fish farmers are reluctant to use formulated feeds.