우리나라 송어양식업의 경쟁력에 관한 연구

Abstract

Trouts are now gaining more and more attention as the importance of the inland fishery is getting higher. In Korea, the species claims for the third largest production among freshwater fish species after the Japanese eel and the catfish. Trouts are also highlighted as a substitute fish for imported salmons. This study was conducted to evaluate the competitiveness of trouts in the Korean market and identify roles of the species as a substitute for salmons. To evaluate the competitiveness, the study conducted profitability (gross profit margin) and economic (NPV, IRR) analysis on 7 trout farms. According to the results, the gross profit margin was 22.02% in average and the NPV and IRR was also shown relatively high, indicating that the species has a significant potential for investment. The production capacity was also found to range 20-200% compared to the current level. However the problem is that the farm production is faced with difficulties due to limited channels of distribution. Second, the study conducted a consumer survey to determine the competitiveness of the species among consumers. 41% of those surveyed said they have eaten trouts while 91% have eaten salmons. The survey asked people who answered they have eaten the both species on the taste and texture, color preference and familiarity. The results showed that the consumers preferred trouts to salmons in terms of taste and texture and slightly preferred trouts in color, while they significantly preferred salmon in terms of familiarity. The study also conducted a partial correlation analysis using total frequencies of fish consumption and found that trouts could substitute salmons and the 2 species are competing products, which is significant at the 0.1 level. Thirdly, the study conducted analysis on price competitiveness using price data of the domestically produced trouts and imported salmons. It was shown that trouts would have higher price competitiveness. Considering that trouts are sold as live fish while imported salmons are mostly fresh, chilled or frozen products, trouts are expected to have more enhanced competitiveness. To determine whether the two species are in a long-term equilibrium, the study carried out a cointegration test using time series price data during 96 months from November 2008 to September 2016. It was demonstrated that the 2 species are at a long-term equilibrium and share the same market. It is very important to expand the trout market in order to develop the inland fishery as well as to contain the increasing market of imported salmons. To do this, we should overcome current challenges including limited channels of distribution and production, relatively poor publicity among consumers. It is thus necessary to continuously promote publicity activities, expand the aquaculture of the recently highlighted sea trout and to develop diverse types of distribution including retail markets and online sales.