Sea Farm Show runs Friday through Sunday at Seoul Plaza

47 organizations to operate 92 exhibition and experience booths

RAST team wins top prize at smart aquaculture competition

This image is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
This image is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

AI technology that analyzes fish feeding behavior to regulate the amount of feed supplied is making its way into the aquaculture industry. The system tracks how much fish eat, recreates farming conditions in a virtual environment and uses that data to optimize feed delivery. An expo showcasing such smart aquaculture technologies opens at Seoul Plaza this week.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Thursday that the 2026 Sea Farm Show will be held at Seoul Plaza from Friday through Sunday.

Now in its 11th year, the expo carries the theme "AI Opens the Sea, Cultivating the Future." A total of 47 fisheries-related organizations and public institutions will take part, operating 92 exhibition, promotional and hands-on experience booths.

A highlight of this year's event is the awards ceremony for the second Smart Aquaculture Challenge, a competition designed to identify and validate privately developed smart aquaculture technologies. Four teams were selected as winners after roughly four months of field evaluation and expert review.

The grand prize went to RAST, a team formed by researchers from Seoul National University, Pukyong National University and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). The winning team will receive the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Award and prize money of 50 million won ($37,800).

RAST developed a "recirculating aquaculture system-specific feed optimization algorithm" that combines fish feeding-response analysis with digital twin technology to regulate feed supply.

Digital twin technology creates a virtual replica of a real facility or environment on a computer. RAST was recognized for integrating adaptive feeding based on behavioral analysis with the continuous learning loop of a digital twin model.

Beyond smart aquaculture technology, the expo will also feature farmed seafood produced across the country. Visitors can browse a wide variety of aquaculture products and purchase them at discounted prices on site.

The program includes a cooking show featuring well-known chefs and a seafood cooking competition. Other events include a "seaweed sommelier" contest evaluating the taste and quality of dried seaweed, an aquaponics pot-making workshop and a seafood dietary habits class for infants and toddlers.

Aquaponics combines fish farming with plant cultivation. The hands-on workshop will let visitors assemble their own aquaponics planter to take home.

A group-purchase live broadcast and an auction for farmed seafood are also planned, along with a stamp rally that visitors can join as they explore the venue.

The opening ceremony, set for 11 a.m. Friday, is expected to be attended by Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo, National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee Chairman Seo Sam-seok, negotiators from both parties on the committee, and representatives from the aquaculture industry and related organizations.

"I hope this expo will be a meaningful occasion for the public to experience firsthand the excellence of our farmed seafood," Minister Hwang said. "We will continue to integrate advanced technologies such as AI to strengthen the future competitiveness of our aquaculture industry and drive sustainable development in the fisheries sector."


adastra@heraldcorp.com