World Aquaculture Magazine - June 2020

10 JUNE 2020 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG Applications for Right to Protect an Undaria Variety The National Institute of Fisheries Sciences (NIFS, President Mr. Choi Wan-hyun) of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) said it has applied for the right to protect varieties of Undaria sp. (Miyeok) by successfully developing new variety through a research on the selection of the seaweeds onWando County. The newly developed Undaria variety ‘Suguawon (NIFS) No. 205’ has increased productivity by about 30 percent compared to the existing Wando variety, and can be harvested by late April for processing. The Seaweed Research Center of the NIFS applied for the right to protect the newUndaria variety in January 2020, which will be registered in 2023 after two years of cultivation and examination by the Aquatic Plant Variety Center, where tests of differentiation, uniformity and stability will be conducted. Ms. HwangMi-sook, head of The Seaweed Research Center is taking the lead to create a foundation for stable production in the context of climate change through the development of various varieties using selective breeding technologies. Successful Industrialization of a Field Diagnosis Kit for Infectious Fish Disease The National Institute of Fisheries Sciences (NIFS, President Mr. Choi Wan-hyun) of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) said it has developed the first on-site diagnostic kit for Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), which causes considerable mortality in flatfish, and has completed the transfer of technology to a medical supply company. VHS is a disease designated as “reportable” by theWorld Organiza- tion for Animal Health (OIE) and the Fisheries Products Disease Control Act in Korea. The disease damages a variety of aquaculture organisms, not only Korea’s major fish species, but also various fish species abroad. VHS is recorded in 13.4 percent (41 of 306 cases) of the number of legal epidemics that occur, with estimated losses around 7 billion won per year. The on-site diagnostic kit can quickly diagnose not only with domestic viruses but also with new genetic types of VHS that are introduced from foreign countries. Until now, five days were required to diagnose the disease through on-site visual inspection and laboratory diagnosis, but the newly developed diagnostic kit can provide results in about 20 minutes. Existing tests cost 36,600 won (about US$30.00) per fish, but this kit, which can diagnose antibodies immediately on-site, costs 5,000 won (about US$4.00) per fish, reduc- ing the diagnosis cost to about one-seventh. The biggest advantage is that it can be easily used and diagnosed by anyone in the field, and it is also very efficient, even in its initial response. The technology has been transferred to a medical supply company, Vetall Laboratories (http:// www.vetall.com ), and it will be further implemented by the compa- nies that require technology transfer. This VHS field diagnosis kit is expected to be possible not only for quick initial measures at fish farms but also for preventing the spread of diseases. Smart Fish Doctor (SFiD) — Online Fish Disease Platform The National Institute of Fisheries Sciences (NIFS) announced that since May, as on-site treatment becomes difficult due to the COV- ID-19 pandemic, an integrated aquaculture treatment platform ‘Smart Fish Doctor (SFiD)’ is being operated so that aquaculture companies can inquire directly through the platform to obtain non-face-to-face disease diagnosis and treatment. The NIFS has inspected and improved the operating system so that aquaculture companies can access the system, which was previously only available to institutions such as the Fisheries Disease Control Center and the Korea Fisheries Disease Management Society, to inquire about disease information as well as questions. If fish show abnormal behavior or are suspected of being infected with a dis- ease, related symptoms and pictures can be posted on ‘SFiD’ and farm- ers will receive expert answers on diagnosis with treatment procedures and countermeasures of how to cope with the disease. KMI Overseas Market Analysis Center Report Fish producers are preparing for changes in consumption patterns after COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the global fisheries product consumption and distribution pattern. While consumer resistance to live products has emerged since COVID-19, there has been a growing preference for safe and standardized processed fish products, and online purchases of fisheries products have been on the rise. In addition, the demand for seaweeds, such as Gim (Pyropia) and Miyeok (Undaria), is increasing in overseas markets as consumers are increasingly interested in health. Therefore, the domestic aquaculture industry is considering this change with followings actions: 1) Development of various processed aquaculture products; 2) Establishing strategies to expand consumption through online shopping malls; and 3) Measures such as the development of new seaweed foods in response to changes in global trends. In this regard, the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) Overseas Market Analysis Center has analyzed the following trends and changes in China’s fisheries sector since COVID-19 are as follows: 1) Processed foods are becoming mainstream foods; 2) Strengthened inspection and quarantine of live products; 3) Health and safety injuries as a major factor in the purchase of fisheries products; 4) Strengthened management of the aquaculture product market; 5) Popularization of the form of fisheries products combined with online and offline; 6) Systematization of distribution management of fisheries products; and 7) Specialization and systematization of corporate management. As healthy foods have become a new global consumption trend due to COVID-19, which swept the world, the need to acquire HACCP and ASC certification and introduce a fisheries product hysteresis is expected to further expand, as well as accelerate the growth of seaweed markets such as Gim (Pyropia) andMiyeok (Undaria). It is expected that the government will need to prepare for changes in domestic and overseas consumption patterns of fish and fisheries products after the COVID-19 with 1) Accreditation of various fisheries products, 2) Expanding the application of the history system of fisheries products through food making and reinforcement of system shipments of fish products, and 3) Development of various fisheries products using seaweeds, etc. MinisterMoon Sung-hyuk Holds Post-COVID-19 Policy Advisory CommitteeMeeting The Minister of Ocean and Fisheries, Mr. Moon Sung-hyuk, held a 2020MOF Policy Advisory Committee meeting onMay 22 in Seoul. Since COVID-19, the marine fisheries sector is expected to see Kore a Chap t er , continued from page 9 C H A P T E R R E P O R T S