South Korea’s first land-based salmon farm begins operations
South Korea has launched its first land-based salmon farm, developed by GS Engineering and Construction and operated by its subsidiary Eco Aquafarm.
The facility has a capacity of 500 tonnes of Atlantic salmon per year, and is the first step towards providing a domestic salmon supply for Korea, which currently relies entirely on imports. The first salmon eggs were stocked in the autumn of 2024 with harvest expected in Q4 2026 after two years of cultivation.
The Busan farm is part of South Korea’s Smart Aquaculture Cluster Development Project, initiated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to modernise fish farming through digital technology.
It is the first Korean facility to use a closed-loop filtration system, supplied by AKVA, allowing reuse of up to 99 per cent of water and reducing marine pollution.
Through the 500-tonne testbed operational know-how will be refined, and Eco Aquafarm plans to increase production tenfold in a second phase of which global investors are invited to participate.
“We are entering the global marine plant business by expanding a large RAS fish farm with an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes. As one of Korea's top three construction companies, we leverage our experience in large-scale projects to ensure long-term success,” said Sang-Jun Dong, Business Development Manager at Eco Aquafarm.
The Busan facility, located at Pukyong National University’s Fisheries Science Institute in Gijang-gun, integrates smart monitoring and control systems. It spans two floors and utilises digital tools for water quality, fish health, and system monitoring.
