Abstract
Many Koreans regard abalone (Haliotus discus hannai) as a desirable luxury food because of its limited availability and high price. Abalone aquaculture was developed during the late 2000s, and production has greatly increased in Korea, reaching 9,147 tons in 2014. Policy experts said this trend means many fishers who cultivate abalone could increase their income. However, their incomes had not increased since fishers started cultivating abalone, because a conventional addition was applied to abalone transactions. The distribution structure for abalone products relies almost entirely on wholesalers instead of fisheries cooperatives, which are commonly used for other types of seafood products. Therefore, a new distribution structure was required in the Korean abalone industry. The objective of this study was to document how the establishment of an abalone cooperative by the local government has affected fishers income and production since 2009. This research was conducted in Wando District in South Jeolla Province, which accounts for over 90% of the domestic abalone production. Wholesalers, fishers, and a public officer were interviewed. A shift from a wholesalercontrolled distribution structure to a cooperative run by the local government helped to reduce the addition and increase fishers incomes overall.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(2): 345-353, August 2016
Highlights
Abalone (Haliotus discus hannai) has traditionally been considered a valuable present for special days, such as Korean Thanksgiving or Lunar New Year
South Jeolla Province is located in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, a region that leads the country in the cultivation and production of seaweed, abalone, and small octopus
In Wando, fishers had requested that the new distribution structure be operated by the local government because it has an important role in aquaculture management and could eliminate the “addition.” Fishers were confident that the local government had the power to solve the problem of the “addition,” and Wando’s local government responded to their repeated demands
Summary
Abalone (Haliotus discus hannai) has traditionally been considered a valuable present for special days, such as Korean Thanksgiving or Lunar New Year. Cultivation of abalone in sea cages was developed in the 2000s, and production has greatly increased in Korea. Korean abalones are known for their great flavor, and large volumes are exported overseas, especially to Japan (Lee and Baek, 2010). Abalone has become the emblematic seafood of Korea. An abalone-producing area in Wando District in South Jeolla Province accounts for over 90% of all Korean abalone production (Kim and Song, 2012). South Jeolla Province is located in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, a region that leads the country in the cultivation and production of seaweed, abalone, and small octopus. The province includes 5 cities and 17 districts, including Wando. Wando District’s fishery is the most advanced in the province, with local specialties of seaweed and abalone
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