Some 60,000 improved varieties of saw-edged perch to be exported to Taiwan

An improved seed of fish will be exported for the first time. The Oceans and Fisheries Ministry said Monday that 61,000 seeds of new "bari" variety will be exported to Taiwan by next month.

Saw-edged perch is the best known "bari" in Korea. The ministry`s "Golden Seed Project" that is promoting the development of fisheries seeds has made two new bari and seeds through an artificially inseminating a large bari`s sperms, which can grow up to 400 kilograms, to saw-edged perches and convict groupers. Three varieties of seeds will be exported this time, which are worth 130 million won (110,893 U.S. dollars).

This is the first Korean export of fisheries seeds. According to the ministry, the global fisheries seeds market stood at 15.7 billion dollars in 2011. The government plans to invest 398.5 billion won (334 million dollars) by 2012 for fisheries seeds technology development. The bari, flatfish and abalone to be exported this time will be fostered into seeds for exports, while weeds will be developed as an import substitute seed.

"Through the exports of fisheries seeds, we can pursue changes in exports categories that are currently focused on adult fish and processed products," said Choi Yong-suck, director for the ministry`s aquaculture industry section. "We will foster and continuously support fish seeds as future growth industries."

jmpark@donga.com