On March 6 (Thurs.), Mr. Choi, Yong-seok, the President of NIFS, visited shellfish processing plants in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do and heard difficulties in the industry. He also visited Ben-ja-ri (threeline grunt, which is a species in preparation for climate change) aquaculture sites to inspect the preparation for wintering. 

Mr. President did not only conduct the inspection on sanitation management of oyster processing plants, but also have a meeting with personnel involved in the export to the United States including discussions on measures for expanding shellfish export. Among others, they agreed to forge a close cooperation on the creation of sustainable oyster seed collection and the measures for climate change. 

Earlier on August 19, 2024, NIFS checked the growth performance and health of Ben-ja-ri (80g), which were distributed to the two cage farms* in Tongyeong coastal waters to confirm the capacity for wintering**. 

*NIFS distributed 3,000 individuals and 1,000 individuals to a farm in Tongyeong and the Gyeongsangnam-do fisheries resource research and development institute, respectively. 

**The average temperature in winter is 13-15℃ on Southern Jeju Island and 10-11℃ in Tongyeong. 

On April 25, 2024, for the industrialization of Ben-ja-ri, a new aquaculture species resistant to high water temperature, NIFS signed MOU with the Gyeongsangnam-do fisheries resource research and development institute. As a part of the MOU, NIFS distributed Ben-ja-ri produced in 2023 and 2024 to the institute for research on mass production of Ben-ja-ri. 

The president of NIFS said, "NIFS will actively support to swiftly address the problems occuring in the process of culturing and processing oysters." He also said, "If it is verified that Ben-ja-ri, which is vulnerable to low water temperature, can winter in the South Sea, the species can be entrenched as an alternative species in aquaculture industry suffering high water temperature. Going forward, therefore, we will continue to research for the industrialization of Ben-ja-ri, while steadily conducting research on the new alternative species against climate change."