NIFS announced that the environmental conditions of fish farms have been improved as shown in the result of 'farm environment rating 2023' for fish cage farms, including the increase in rating grades. 

The 38 farms subject to the assessment are composed of Grade 1(18), Grade 2(10), Grade 3(8), and Grade 4(2). Among them, the share of Grade 3-4 farms is around 26% which is required to improve environmental conditions such as cleaning the farms and moving the location of facilities. 

38 entities (or farms) subject to the environmental assessment 2023: Jeonnam(15), Gyeongnam(13), Gyeongbuk(4), Chungnam(3), Gangwon(2), Jeju(1) 

Especially, in conducting reassessment 4~5 years after implementing measures to clean fish farms and relocate the facilities required to Grade 3-4 farms in 2014-2017, it turned out the five Grade 4 farms saw their environmental conditions jumping to one of Grade 3. 

Meanwhile, in the 10-year environmental assessment on fish farms since 2014, Grade 1-2 and Grade 3-4 fish farms were 100 and 86 for each. 

Since 2014, NIFS has been notifying local governments of the rating grade (Grade 1-Grade 4) based on Total Organic Carbon(TOC) in sediments and benthic health index one year prior to the expiration date of license in accordance with the Fishing Ground Management Act. 

The self-governing body, following the rating result, should take improvemental measures such as extending the license validity within 10 years for Grade 1-2, and five years for Grade 3, four years for Grade 4, cleaning fish farms, and relocating facilities, etc.