The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (Suhyup) announced on Oct. 21 that its trade support centers around the world helped South Korea secure the largest-ever seafood exports in its history, posting nearly 60 billion won in contracts in 2024.
On Oct. 17, Noh Dong-jin, chairman of the Suhyup, presided over a video conference with the heads of the organization’s trade support centers for the first time, and expressed his encouragement for their achievements.
“The trade support centers have been very helpful in promoting the excellence of our fishery products through international fisheries fairs and trade consultations,” Chairman Noh said during the video conference.
“The Suhyup will spare no effort to support them in their activities on the global stage.”
Up to the third quarter of this year, the trade support centers participated in or organized 20 international fairs and trade meetings.
Through these events, contracts for the export of seafood products totaling $42.58 million were signed.
This figure is the largest amount ever since the trade support center began promoting an overseas market development project. This is 88 percent and 66 percent increases from $22.43 million in 2022 and $25.41 million in 2023, respectively.
The trade support centers have achieved these results by regularly and directly organizing online and offline consultations between Korean exporters and overseas buyers, expanding the map of Korea’s seafood exports.
Since the opening of the first trade support centers in Shanghai, China, in 2014, the trade support centers have been established and are running in 10 locations in seven countries, including Qingdao and Hong Kong of China, Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam, Taipei of Taiwan, Tokyo of Japan, Los Angeles and New Jersey of the United States, Bangkok of Thailand and Jakarta of Indonesia.
They will be expanded to 11 locations in eight countries when one more trade supper center opens in Paris, France in November.
Running Organization to Cope with Climate Change in Fisheries
The Suhyup announced on Oct. 17 that it set up a comprehensive response organization to tackle climate change as the number of farmed seafood deaths increased rapidly due to rising sea temperatures and changes in fishing grounds led to a drop in catches.
The Suhyup will closely analyze damage to the fisheries sector caused by climate change, collect opinions and requests from the field, prepare comprehensive measures and publicize them to call for national support.
They organized the Climate Change Committee to take on these tasks and play proper roles and held its first meeting at its headquarters on Oct. 16.
The committee was formed in response to recurring devastating impacts on aquaculture and coastal fisheries for years.
Climate change is also causing shifts in fishing grounds, especially those for migratory species such as squids, yellow croakers and anchovies, which migrate in search of suitable water temperatures.
This makes timely production difficult.
Fishery Festival at Noryangjin Fish Market
To rev up the consumption of seafood, the Grand Noryangjin Fishery Festival was held at Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul, the largest fish market in Korea, for two days from Nov. 2 to Nov. 3.
The Noryangjin Fishery Festival has been organized by the Suhyup and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and offered special enjoyable time to citizens and tourists.
This year's festival was especially characterized by enhanced programs to experience and taste the various charms of seafood.
Representative programs included a seafood auction experience and a VR sea fishing event.
At the seafood auction experience, visitors could enjoy a unique experience of bidding for their favorite seafood products in the atmosphere of a real seafood auction at the market.
The VR sea fishing event made visitors feel as if they were really fishing in the sea.
Various booths were run by the Noryangjin Seafood Sellers Association.
They served various seafood dishes such as grilled whole fish and fresh assorted sashimi in season, captivating the taste buds of visitors.
In addition, the seafood direct sales market offered a variety of seasonal seafood such as ark shells, mackerels and octopuses among others at reasonable prices.
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