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양식어류센터, 함덕 바다에 붉바리 치어 1만5000마리 방류
15,000 young Hong Kong groupers born in JNU fish farm released into sea

Marine scientists of Jeju National University released Epinephelus akaara (Hong Kong groupers) into the sea to enable stocks to be replenished, the school announced Wednesday (May 12).

Jeju Aquaculture Breed Evaluation Center of Jeju National University’s Marine Science Institute, Fisheries Corporation CR (JNU’s technology holding company), and the Hamdeok Fishing Village Cooperative set sail from the northeastern town of Hamdeok to the waters called Soyeo on Monday.

Those who were on board the boat released some 15,000 young Hong Kong groupers (5 cm in length) that were fertilized and spawned in Marcy by the university’s research team (led by Prof. Lee Young-don) and CR.

The Hong Kong grouper is a rare grouper which is one of the most highly priced Serranidae. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently named it on its Red List of Threatened Species due to the rapid decrease in its population.

In 2019, Jeju Aquaculture Breed Evaluation Center and CR also released 3,000 young Hong Kong groupers and 4,000 young Goldeye rockfish (Sebastes thompsoni) into the same sea area.

Lee Young-don, the director of the center, expected that the project will help safeguard and restore resources in the local littoral seas, and increase sources of local fishermen’s income. The center will continue to release young fish to meet the needs of local communities.