Sixty-year-bred salmon challenges the trout and salmon market

Published 2025년 9월 15일

Tridge summary

With salmon imports accounting for half of the domestic supply of live fish, domestically produced trout is entering the substitute fish market following its entry into large-scale supermarkets. The Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST) recently pointed out in its trend analysis report, "Preliminary Tasks for Domestic Trout Facing the Challenge of the Salmon Market," that while the gap created by the rise in salmon prices presents a challenge opportunity for the trout industry, it also noted structural limitations in productivity, seed stock, and water resource management. Trout farming, which began in 1965, increased to 3,000 tons in the 2000s, but has settled at around 2,600 tons in the 2020s. Meanwhile, salmon imports averaged 54,000 tons over the past five years in the same period.

Original content

With salmon imports accounting for half of the domestic raw fish supply, domestic trout is entering the sashimi market as a substitute, driven by its entry into large-scale supermarkets. The Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST) recently pointed out in its trend analysis report, "Preliminary Tasks for Domestic Trout Challenging the Salmon Market," that while the gap created by the rise in salmon prices is an opportunity for the trout industry, there are structural limitations in terms of productivity, seed, and water resource management. Trout farming began in 1965 and increased to 3,000 tons in the 2000s, but has settled at around 2,600 tons in the 2020s. Meanwhile, salmon imports have exceeded domestic pollock production, averaging 54,000 tons over the past five years. Despite the trout production accounting for only 5%, sales for sashimi in large-scale supermarkets began in September last year, prompting consumer movement. The background of the change in ...

Source: Fisheco