The Gyeonggi Province Maritime & Fisheries Research Institute recently said it will set up and operate aquaponics fish farms, facilities that produce both fish and crops at the same time, in Gimpo and Icheon on a trial basis until next year.
The aquaponics system has a clear strength in which the organic materials generated by breeding fish provide nutrients for plants, and plants purify the water to keep it clean for the fish.
Unlike existing agriculture-centered operations, the newly-established fish farms will have fishery-centered operations with a focus on raising and selling fish. To this end, hydroponics facilities will be added to existing fish farms.
The fish farm in Gimpo will raise Korean bullheads, while the one in Icheon will raise eels. Both will also be engaged in the production of green vegetables.
The institute developed a Decoupled Aquaponic System (DAS) in which the pollutants generated by the fish go through mechanical or chemical treatment via separate devices before being sent to plant growing sites to ensure that such pollutants can be used as nutrients for plants.
Source: Korea Bizwire