On June 12, NIFS visited the eco-friendly shrimp farms located in Gangwha county, Incheon, and held an on-site meeting with stakeholders including farmers and the insiders of Incheon fisheries resources research institute. 

In the meeting, they shared the views on △the measures to strengthen competitiveness of domestic shrimp seeds (size, vitality, disease tolerance, etc.), △increasing opportunities for various shrimp seed stocking, △conducting site-oriented research, etc. 

There are 36 shrimp farms in Ganghwa county (696 farms across the country), and six out of the 36 farms culture shrimp in an environmentally responsible manner. 

In case of whiteleg shrimp farming, the yield was 9,504 tons in 2022, which was down to 7,047 tons (approximately 26% decline) in 2023 due to the occurrence of Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND). 2024 also ended up 7,766 tons without the yield being fully recovered.

NIFS had developed eco-friendly aquaculture techniques since 2003 and disseminated them to local governments and private aquaculture farms through training for start-ups. It also has been developing shrimp resistant to bacterial diseases since 2024 and the development of customized formulated feed is in the process to reduce feed costs and improve aquaculture productivity. 

The President Choi Yong-seok said, “To enhance the competitiveness of domestic shrimp farming, NIFS will strengthen on-site research including to develop new feed and varieties resistant to diseases. We will work consistently to hear what the farmers say to find solutions.”