The seas of the DPRK have favourable conditions for offshore farming.

For example, the East Sea of Korea is very suitable for the growth of fishes and seaweeds in terms of ecological environment like the quality, depth and temperature of its water.

The East Sea has simple coastline with a relatively small number of islands, but it has several bays like East Korea Bay, which provides a good condition for aquaculture.

As its water is clear with favourable currents and is relatively deep to the area close to the coast, a farming ground can be laid out offshore.

The Tuman and other large and small rivers and streams flow into the sea, raising its content of nutritious salt, which is another condition favourable for offshore farming.

In addition, a variety of fishes and seaweeds can be farmed on the East Sea.

The difference of temperature between the sea’s southern and northern parts is big. Yet, the sea is calm all year round as it is under the influence of high pressure from the Pacific Ocean in summer. Its offshore area is blessed with very low tidal difference and relatively-constant salinity and is subjected to the influence of hot and cold currents. Therefore, a variety of seafood can be farmed, typically trepang, sea urchin, scallop, ark shell, surf clam and ear shell.

Up to now, trepang, sea urchin, mussel, oyster, scallop, kelp, tangle and Gracilaria verrucosa have been farmed in the main.

The sea off Rason is favourable for farming scallop in the light of its average depth and bottom conditions while the lagoons along the lower reaches of the Tuman are good for farming oyster.

As the sea off Chongjin in North Hamgyong Province is teeming with trepang and sea urchin and has many rock groups on the bottom, it is possible to raise trepang and sea urchin in shallow sea and scallop, kelp and tangle in a mixed way in deeper sea.

In particular, the sea off Ragwon County of South Hamgyong Province has favourable water currents, clear water and many sandbanks and rocks good for scallop, trepang, ear shell and other species of shellfish which flourish in shallow sea. Also it is abundant in young tangle and other kinds of seaweed.

This area is very favourable for aquaculture in terms of depth, temperature, current speed, amount of planktons, bottom topography and the number of sunny days.

The seas off Thongchon and Anbyon counties of Kangwon Province are favourable for farming surf clam, which can be used in cooking boiled rice with clam meat, a speciality of Wonsan.

If the regions like Hwadae County of North Hamgyong Province bordering on rough sea with no bay make effective use of the zones with the water temperature lower than 17℃ and the depth of 5 to 15 metres, they can raise oarweed successfully.

As seen above, the cities and counties along the east coast can earn great profits if they raise right species to meet their marine environment and conditions and actively apply advanced farming methods.

A typical example is the Sinpho City Offshore Farm which was built as a model for offshore farming in the new era. Though it was inaugurated last year, it is bringing in the first harvest of kelp.

Kim Pong Ju