The first land-based salmon center opens in South Korea

Korean GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) completed the construction of South Korea's first land-based smart salmon facility in December 2024. The 'Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster' is in the Fisheries Science Research Institute at Pukyong National University in Gijang-gun.

Pukyong National University President Bae Sang-hoon, Busan Deputy Mayor Kim Kwang-hwe, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung, and GS Construction CEO Heo Yoon-hong attended the inauguration ceremony.

This new eco-friendly farm, which has two above-ground floors and one basement level, will produce 500 tons of Atlantic salmon annually using smart technology. The operations will be managed by Eco Aqua Farm, a subsidiary of GS Construction.

Among the advanced technologies are a recirculating filtration system that reuses more than 99% of the water, communication, and data storage devices, and a "smart" aquaculture platform. After two years of farming, the first shipment of Atlantic salmon is expected to be produced in 2026.

Regarding this project, Bae Sang-hoon said: "With the completion of the Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster, we now have a strong foothold for technological independence and the development of advanced, eco-friendly aquaculture technologies. We expect this facility to significantly elevate the level of advanced marine technology in Busan."

The 'Smart Aquaculture Cluster Development Project'

The 'Smart Aquaculture Cluster Development Project' is an initiative by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea that aims to transform the Korean aquaculture industry into a digital industry.

The project is being developed in five regions, including Busan, Jeonnam, Gangwon, Gyeongbuk, and Jeju.