NIFS announced its success in developing manufacturing technology of formulated feeds for juvenile abalone utilizing Ulva Australis (UA) as an ingredient - which has been a troublesome seaweed in Jeju Island recently - and its completion of state-owned patent application. 

UA is the marine waste resource that causes environmental and economic problems when entering and multiplying in the coastal waters of Jeju Island. Usually, it occurs in large quantities covering large areas of the coast and causes a stench due to decomposition along shorelines, causing a nuisance to the people. Every year has to bear the enormous cost* to collect and discard the UA.

*Over 22,000 tons had been collected in Jeju Island from 2020 to 2024 and 200 million won cost per year for the waste management. 

Since 2023, the aquafeed research center of NIFS has conducted the R&D on formulated feed for juvenile abalone using UA. The resulting showed that UA can be a perfect replacement (100 percent) for the sea mustard powder which is imported at a low cost as the primary ingredient in abalone feed (30% of the feed composition) while having cost reduction effect of 25.6% based on production costs.

*Price of raw materials: Seaweed powder (Made in China 3,500 won/kg, Made in Korea 6,000 won/kg), UA (2,000 won/kg)

**Feed cost: Standard feed (45,760 won/20kg), UA-based feed (34,060 won/20kg) 

Recently, the center and the abalone producer association conducted field application tests for the utilization of UA feed. It also plans to transfer the technology to feed companies after gathering opinions from the sites. 

The president of NIFS said, “To use Ulva Australis (UA) as the feed ingredient would contribute to improving the marine environment and increasing the income of abalone farmers by cutting the production costs. NIFS will continue to carry out research on how to utilize the abandoned and discarded seaweed including raw laver.”