GS Engineering & Construction Achieves Successful Demonstration of Land-Based “K-Salmon” Aquaculture...First Shipment Begins in Busan

“Clean K-Salmon Shipment Declaration Ceremony” Held at Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster on the 30th

Direct Operation from Fertilized Egg Stocking and Growth to Water Quality Management and Shipment Preparation

GS Engineering & Construction has succeeded in a pilot project for land-based Atlantic salmon aquaculture using its water treatment technology and is now moving ahead with full-scale shipment.

Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster panorama. GS Engineering & Construction

The company announced that, following the successful demonstration of its subsidiary EcoAquaFarm's land-based Atlantic salmon aquaculture technology, it held a “Clean K-Salmon Shipment Declaration Ceremony” on the 30th.

The event, held at the Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster in Gijang-gun, Busan, was attended by Yoon Hong Huh, CEO of GS Engineering & Construction, as well as officials from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Busan Metropolitan Government, and other distinguished guests.

The Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster is located within the Fisheries Science Research Institute of Pukyong National University. It is a testbed facility capable of producing up to 500 tons of Atlantic salmon annually, with full-scale shipments set to begin at the end of this year.

Previously, GS Engineering & Construction selected land-based salmon farming as a new business item and established its subsidiary EcoAquaFarm in 2020. The company has directly operated the entire land-based salmon aquaculture process—from hatching fertilized Atlantic salmon eggs, to rearing fry, smolt, and mature fish, as well as managing water quality and shipment—accumulating both technology and operational data.

Since Atlantic salmon require cold, clean water to thrive, maintaining precise water temperature and quality is crucial for stable year-round rearing in Korea. EcoAquaFarm introduced a closed-type recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) based on GS Engineering & Construction’s proprietary water treatment technology and ICT-based smart aquaculture solutions at the Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster. The RAS technology filters and purifies water from land-based aquaculture facilities for reuse. The company also implemented ZWC technology, which recycles up to 99% of water, thereby establishing a sustainable land-based salmon aquaculture environment.

EcoAquaFarm has also strengthened its safety and quality control systems throughout the production process. In March last year, the company registered and adopted the Fisheries Traceability Management System operated by the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service. In September of the same year, it received approval for registration under the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards for the fish farm. In June of this year, it obtained certification for antibiotic-free Atlantic salmon.

GS Engineering & Construction is also continuing to collaborate on technology with external professional organizations and companies. In March last year, it signed a business agreement with LG Electronics to improve hygiene at its land-based aquaculture plant. In November, the company signed another business agreement with the National Institute of Fisheries Science to collaborate on disease management technologies, including research on aquatic animal diseases (such as those affecting Atlantic salmon) and the development of preventive vaccines. Joint research efforts are currently underway.

A GS Engineering & Construction official stated, "By cultivating actual Atlantic salmon at the Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster, we have accumulated the necessary technology and operational capabilities for every stage of land-based aquaculture, including water treatment, growth management, and facility operations," adding, "We plan to enhance the competitiveness of our land-based aquaculture platform using the technologies and data we have secured."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.