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Even Ornamental Fish are Pets Nowadays—Establishing the 3rd Master Plan for Fostering the Ornamental Fish Industry

  • Date

    2026.05.27.

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Even Ornamental Fish are Pets Nowadays—Establishing the 3rd Master Plan for Fostering the Ornamental Fish Industry
- Implementing the reinforcement of foundation of the ornamental fish industry and its transformation into a future industry, and the creation of cultural value



  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that it would be implementing the 3rd Master Plan for Fostering the Ornamental Fish Industry (2026–2030) it has established to revitalize the vibrant ornamental fish industry.

  The Master Plan for Fostering the Ornamental Fish Industry is a statutory plan established under the Ornamental Fish Industry Promotion and Support Act to set policy goals and implementation strategies for the ornamental fish industry for 5 years. While the 1st and 2nd Master Plans laid the foundational elements of the industry including infrastructure for production, distribution, startup support, and education—such as the Inland Ornamental Fish Business Center (Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk Province, December 2025)—as well as research on ornamental fish production technologies and their dissemination, this 3rd Master Plan provides policy support to expand the  base of the ornamental fish industry and make it sustainable.

  Built upon the vision of “realizing a vibrant ornamental fish industry where pet culture and innovative technology coexist,” the 3rd Master Plan reflects these policy demands and incorporates on-site feedback. The Master Plan will pursue three key strategies to expand the size of the ornamental fish industry from KRW 444.3 billion in 2025 to KRW 515 billion by 2030: ❶strengthening the foundation of the ornamental fish industry; ❷facilitating the advancement of industrialization of the ornamental fish industry; and ❸creating cultural value associated with ornamental fish.

【❶ From customized training to startup support...Strengthening the foundation for the ornamental fish industry

  First, five strategic ornamental fish species will be selected based on breed characteristics and consumer preferences, with a breeding foundation tailored to each species to be established for the intensive breeding of competitive ornamental fish. Furthermore, the Master Plan will modernize the industry by covering the costs incurred when introducing advanced smart facilities—such as recirculating aquaculture systems—to aging ornamental fish farming facilities or when installing equipment and facilities necessary for distribution and sales.

  Support for business revitalization including education, startups, promotion, and exports will be strengthened as well. The Plan will assist startup companies in office rental, business consulting, prototype production, and PR by leveraging local education and startup support facilities*, and will actively support overseas market development by inviting foreign experts to domestic evaluation contests and exhibitions and displaying high-quality ornamental fish breeds.

    * Inland Ornamental Fish Business Center (Sangju, Gyeongbuk Province), Ornamental Fish Education and Startup Support Center (Sacheon, Gyeongnam Province), etc.

  In addition, the Plan will lay a foundation for the ornamental fish industry to continue its sustainable growth by designating an industrial fostering and training institution to identify difficulties and address them, and support and foster professionals.  New ornamental fish certifications for professional guides and aquarium managers will be established, while the current private certification for ornamental fish managers will be subdivided by job competency and converted into a national certification. The Plan will also foster self-reliance by continuing to support the self-help fund* so that the industry can autonomously promote and publicize ornamental fish sales and marketing.

    * A fund created by adding government contributions to amounts voluntarily paid by producer organizations to enhance industrial competitiveness

【❷ Industrializing the Ornamental Fish Industry

  Smart aquariums and ornamental fish goods will be developed to secure future demand by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to manage water quality and diseases, enabling even beginners with no prior experience in keeping ornamental fish to raise them easily. Research on native varieties such as the Korean rose bitterling (Rhodeus uyekii) and the round-tailed paradise fish will be continued to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic varieties capable of replacing imported varieties.

  Veering away from the existing culture of merely watching and enjoying, a new ornamental fish culture using digital media will be created. The base of the industry will be expanded by building a pet fish platform to provide all information related to ornamental fish including species-specific characteristics, care information, and disease management, developing psychological therapy content using virtual reality such as digital water watching to relax, and developing and promoting representative Korean native ornamental fish goods (merchandise).

【❸ Creating Cultural Value from Ornamental Fish Enjoyed in Daily Life】

  The Plan features measures to raise public interest by expanding opportunities for the general public to experience ornamental fish through initiatives such as the Aqua Dream Bus*, pop-up exhibition halls, and customized on-site ornamental fish education programs and adding a smart ornamental fish farming category to the idea section of the Smart Aquaculture Challenge** competition, which has been held since last year.

    * Providing ornamental fish experience opportunities to underprivileged areas and schools by installing a real aquarium and a digital experience zone as well as quiz kiosks, etc. in a mobile vehicle
   ** Competition to raise nationwide interest in smart aquaculture and discover excellent technologies

  The Plan also includes building a culture of keeping ornamental fish as pets, considering them as “part of the family.” Standards for improving animal welfare in the ornamental fish production, distribution, and rearing processes will be established and disseminated, and education and public awareness campaigns will be waged for the general public regarding ecosystem disturbance and animal welfare issues caused by the unauthorized release of ornamental fish. Moreover, disease management is being strengthened by implementing import quarantine measures to prevent the introduction of ornamental fish-related diseases from overseas and by conducting periodic disease monitoring of aquaculture farms.

  "We are in the era of pet culture, even for ornamental fish. The goal of this 3rd Master Plan is not only to foster the ornamental fish industry but also to expand opportunities for the public to experience and enjoy ornamental fish in their daily lives easily. We will faithfully implement the Master Plan to realize a more vibrant ornamental fish industry," said Park Seung-jun, Director General of Fishing Village and Aquaculture Policy at MOF.

 
Inquiry
Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy Director
Person in charge
Director
Do Yoon-jung
(051-773-5630)
Aquaculture Industry Division
Coordinator
Deputy Director
Lim Sang-wook
(051-773-5683)



 
 
Reference
 Implementation Direction and Key Tasks of the 3rd Master Plan for Fostering the Ornamental Fish Industry


 
Vision
Realizing a vibrant ornamental fish industry where pet culture and innovative technology coexist
Goal
Policy
◈ Strengthening the industrial foundation by expanding the ornamental fish industry infrastructure
◈ Future industrialization of ornamental fish by applying innovative technology
◈ Spreading the cultural value of ornamental fish and expanding the base of the pet market
Size
◈ Domestic market: (2025) KRW 444.3 billion → (2030) KRW 515.0 billion

 
Strategy
Implementation tasks by strategy
 
 1. Strengthening the infrastructure for the ornamental fish industry
 1 Strengthening production and distribution infrastructure

 2 Revitalizing the ornamental fish business

 3 Creating a growth ecosystem for the ornamental fish industry
 2. Industrialization of the ornamental fish industry
 1 Developing AI-based application products and advancing ornamental fish technology

 2 Strengthening the use of digital media
 3. Creating cultural value for ornamental fish
 1 Expanding ornamental fish cultural experiences for the general public

 2 Holding ornamental fish education and competitions

 3 Realizing animal welfare in the ornamental fish sector
 
 
1. Strengthening the Infrastructure for the Ornamental Fish Industry


□ (1-1. Strengthening production and distribution infrastructure) Strengthening the industrial foundation through customized rearing by species, facility and startup support, etc.

    * Selecting five strategic ornamental fish species and establishing customized rearing strategies; introducing advanced smart farming facilities such as recirculating aquaculture systems and automatic feeders; and providing financial support for such facilities

   ** Support for early-stage startups including funding, consulting, free office rental, and marketing assistance

□ (1-2. Revitalizing the ornamental fish business) Securing ornamental fish business hubs, revitalizing evaluation contests and exhibitions, and exploring overseas markets

    * Completing the East Sea Ornamental Fish Pet Plaza (Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk Province by 2028) and constructing new hubs in the Soyang region and other areas

   ** Support for export vouchers (translation/interpretation, export consulting, etc.), disease testing to meet importing countries' sanitary (quarantine) standards, provision of overseas market information, and assistance in resolving non-tariff barriers

□ (1-3. Creating a growth ecosystem for the ornamental fish industry) Creating the private sector-led growth ecosystem by designating institutions specializing in industry fostering and workforce training, advancing certification systems, and supporting self-imposed levies (check-off funds)
 
2. Industrialization of the Ornamental Fish Industry


□ (2-1. Developing AI-based application products and advancing ornamental fish technology) Developing technology such as AI·IoT ornamental fish tank and marine, native, and rare ornamental fish species

    * Developing advanced, high value-added smart technologies for the big three ornamental fish goods: filters, air pumps, and lighting

   ** Securing aquaculture technology for saltwater ornamental fish subject to the CITES regulation and conducting research to enhance the ornamental value of native freshwater fish such as Korean carp and promoting high-value rare ornamental fish including freshwater stingrays

□ (2-2. Strengthening the use of digital media) Building the Pet Fish Platform to provide ornamental fish information and services, and producing and distributing content using social media

    * Providing technical information on breed-specific characteristics, rearing, disease management, and propagation, and promoting online consultation and chatbot services

   ** Producing and promoting content through MOF’s and other social media channels, developing and using experiential and psychotherapy content incorporating cutting-edge AR/VR technologies, developing representative ornamental fish merchandise, etc.
 
3. Creation of Cultural Value for Ornamental Fish


□ (3-1. Expanding ornamental fish cultural experiences for the general public) Expanding ornamental fish experience opportunities by operating experience buses, pop-up exhibition halls, aqua cafes, etc.

    * Operating the on-site Aqua Dream Bus, hosting a pop-up exhibition hall using MOF’s public facilities

□ (3-2. Hosting ornamental fish education and competitions) Increasing public interest by training ornamental fish experts and hosting competitions linked to the Smart Aquaculture Sea initiative

    * Establishing a new job training course for ornamental fish farming (STEP, Ministry of Labor), implementing on-site ornamental fish education, etc.

□ (3-3. Realizing animal welfare in the ornamental fish sector) Implementing ornamental fish animal welfare by establishing and promoting animal welfare guidelines, disease management, etc.

    * Developing and promoting animal welfare guidelines regarding tank density and water quality management, free ornamental fish adoption platform, and educational content on ecosystem disturbance and animal welfare violations

   ** Establishing a Compartmentalized Disease Management Plan for ornamental fish import quarantine and periodic disease surveillance, provision of information on the efficacy and use of ornamental fish medicines, certification of disease-free status for exports (e.g., koi), etc.
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