Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/05/11
By: Yang Su-min and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, May 11 (CNA) A Taiwanese research team has developed a technique for breeding the Atlantic salmon and estimates that it will help meet local demand for the fish within three years, Fisheries Agency Director-General Tsay Tzu-yaw (蔡日耀) announced Wednesday.

While it would take about three years to cultivate brood fish for reproduction, the breeding technique has been fully developed, Tsay said.

It is hoped that after mass breeding begins, the output will eventually fully meet domestic demand, he said.

Nan Fan-hua (冉繁華), head of the research team, said 20 percent of Taiwan’s annual demand could be met three years after mass breeding begins, and 50 percent could be met five years later.

Currently, the annual domestic demand for Atlantic salmon is estimated at NT$5 billion (US$153.74 million) and mainly depends on imports. Over the past three years, Taiwan has imported about 20,000 metric tons of salmon per year.     [FULL  STORY]