NIFS announced that it begins cage farm test in earnest for the industrialization of Ben-ja-ri (three line grunt), the species to cope with high water temperature(HWT). 

The Subtropical Fisheries Research Institute of NIFS selected three line grunt as new aquaculture speices in 2021 and has been conducting research on it.

With the species' resilience to environmental change confirmed, last year expanded the research areas - including habitat environment, breeding control, and seed production – and completed the based research for three line grunt aquaculture. 

*Growing well at above 28℃ water temperature, resilient in salinity change (10~34 psu) 

Recently, as the death of rockfish and filefish – main aquaculture species in southern seas – has increased under a string of HWT, it is urgently required to develop replacement species for the aquaculture. 

In this situation, on April 25, NIFS signed a MOU with the Gyeongsangnam-do fisheries resource research and development institute for industrialization of Ben-ja-ri. To that end, NIFS distributed 1,500 individuals (around 40g per individual ) produced in 2023 and 1.8 million fertilized eggs produced in 2024 to the institute, establishing the system for mass production research. 

In addition to that, NIFS also distributed 4,000 individuals (80g per individual) to the two entities* in southern areas, starting on-site cage farm tests to examine growth and health status, breeding possibility under HWT and during winter season**, and management-related aspects. 

*A cage farm in Tongyeong (3,000 individuals), the Gyeongsangnam-do fisheries resource research and development institute (additional 1,000 individuals) 

**The average water temperature in Tongyeong is 10~11℃, lower than 13~15℃ in the Southern Jeju during winter season.

The original habitat of Ben-ja-ri is the Southern Jeju, but Tongyeong also started to spot the appearance of the species due to the recent HWT. Because of that, fishermen's requests for the seed distribution have been increasing, coupled with their great interests in the species.

Currently, Ben-ja-ri adapts well to the cage farm environment under HWT without problems, which has been constantly monitored to verify the possibility of cage farms. 

For the industrialization of Ben-ja-ri cage farms, NIFS will make continuous efforts by joining force with fishermen, including expansion of the test areas from 2025, etc.