The production volume of oysters will be increased from 200,000 tons to 300,000 tons, and exports will rise from $80 million to $160 million by 2030.
The government is striving for the goal of becoming the top exporter of oysters by innovating production facilities and technology. The strategy includes building dedicated aquaculture harbors, distributing automated machinery, and increasing the production of popular overseas varieties to double export revenue.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the 'Oyster Aquaculture Industry Promotion Plan' containing this information during the Cabinet Council meeting on the 9th.
Korean oysters hold about 15% of the global oyster market, estimated at $600 million. Following France ($140 million) and China ($120 million), South Korea ranks as the third-largest exporter of oysters. Despite a favorable environment for oyster exports, the revenue has stagnated at around $80 million since 2015.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries assessed that the oyster aquaculture and processing industry is facing challenges such as decreased productivity due to an aging population and aging facilities, as well as a decline in preference among younger generations.
The government prioritized improving oyster production facilities. It plans to build integrated complexes for dedicated aquaculture harbors, oyster seed production sites, and processing plants to enhance production efficiency. Customized equipment necessary for the mostly manual oyster production sites will also be developed and distributed. The processing plants will be equipped with conveyor belts, washers, shelling machines, and automatic sorting machines, and workboats that can automatically harvest oysters and conduct primary washing at sea will also be distributed.
It aims to develop new export markets while expanding its influence in existing ones. Support will be provided for the production and promotion of individual oysters (oysters sold in their shells), which are popular in Europe. Individual oysters are larger and more valuable than regular oysters, but high initial expenses limit their production to only 1% of the domestic output. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to increase the proportion of individual oysters to 30% by 2030 by subsidizing production expenses. Additionally, it will strengthen export competitiveness by supporting exporters with the costs required for obtaining international certifications demanded by countries like the United States and Japan.
Domestic changes are also sought. To increase oyster consumption in a market primarily consuming peeled oysters (acknowledged oysters), support will be provided for food processing companies to create and sell new oyster processed products. The scale of the oyster self-support fund will be expanded from 500 million won to 800 million to 1 billion won, and promotional efforts targeting consumers will also be strengthened.
Hygiene and safety management in the oyster industry will also be strengthened. To produce safe oysters, facilities will be continuously installed to prevent the inflow of land and sea pollutants, and the sewer coverage rate near oyster production waters will be increased. Education on pollutant discharge for small vessels will also be enhanced.
Minister Kang Do-hyung said, 'We will transform the existing traditional oyster industry into an automated and smart industry,' adding, 'We will strengthen industry competitiveness to become the world's leading exporter of oysters.'