As a technical alternative to strengthening global environmental regulations and increasing domestic oil costs due to the climate crisis, the government (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) has been implementing the technological development of hybrid commercial fishing boats since 2021. This study empirically analyzes the awareness of fisheries workers (n=568) and fisheries-related stakeholders (n=151) regarding the hybrid fishing boats and evaluates strategic competitive advantages of the boat-building technology using the VRIO (Value, Rarity, Inimitability, Organization) framework. The Korean fisheries sector currently faces worsening business conditions due to structural challenges such as resource depletion (57.6%), labor shortages (30.8%), and rising fuel costs (81.5%). Consequently, the tax-free fuel subsidy program has emerged as a critical factor for sustaining fisheries operations, with 91.9% of fishers identifying the program as essential for business stability and 63.6% indicating they would cease operations if the program were abolished. Under these circumstances, hybrid electric vessels are gaining attention as a promising alternative for reducing fuel costs, with 32.2% of respondents expressing a willingness to adopt such vessels. Conditional demand analysis revealed that 37% of fishers showed willingness to purchase if fuel savings reached 30~50%, with an average acceptable price increase of 16.8% over conventional boats and an average desired government subsidy rate of 56.3%. The VRIO results show that the technology holds competitive advantages in value, rarity, and inimitability, but falls short in the organization dimension. The results indicate the need for improvements in institutional infrastructure such as dedicated organizations, process standardization, and a structured supply system.
This study aims to propose operational strategies for temperature management in wholesale fish markets, the first stage of the seafood distribution structure, in light of the increasing consumption of seafood and the government's strategy to revitalize the seafood consumption market. To identify areas for improvement in efficient cold chain management at wholesale markets, an analysis was conducted based on a survey assessing the importance and satisfaction levels among industry stakeholders. The survey results highlighted key reinforcement factors, such as ensuring the separation and safety of workspaces, securing low-temperature auction facilities, improving outdated wholesale market infrastructure, and raising workers' awareness of quality and hygiene management. Priority improvement areas included enhancing hygiene-related facilities, standardizing and regulating equipment, establishing temperature monitoring and management systems, implementing government policies for hygiene improvement in wholesale markets, and providing subsidies. The findings of this study are expected to serve as a reference for the adoption of seafood cold chain policies.
Seafood, a major source of essential protein for human nutrition, has gained increasing significance as consumption rises due to higher income levels, growing health awareness, and environmental concerns. This study investigates the effects of individual lifestyles, food consumption tendencies, and food safety concerns on seafood consumption behavior. Utilizing data from the 2022 Food Consumption Behavior Survey conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the analysis categorizes consumers by age group to account for the nonlinear relationship between age and seafood consumption. Key variables include seafood purchase frequency, demographic characteristics, food safety concerns, and dietary preferences. The results reveal that seafood consumption patterns vary significantly across age groups, highlighting the importance of age-specific marketing strategies. Moreover, the findings suggest a need to expand and strengthen the promotion of food safety certification systems and to develop more targeted promotional strategies that reflect the diverse characteristics of individual consumers.
This study aimed to propose a direction for the cold chain operation of fishery wholesale markets by installing temperature and humidity measurement devices within the market. The spatial scope of the study was the Boryeong Fisheries Cooperative Wholesale Market, and the temporal scope covered temperature measurements taken at 10-minute intervals over 24 hours from August 15 to December 13, 2024. The analysis revealed that the internal temperature of the wholesale market exhibited seasonal characteristics, allowing classification into three groups: a high-temperature summer group with an average temperature of 26.9°C, a stable autumn group with an average temperature of 17.4°C, and a low-temperature winter group with an average temperature of 8.14°C. Additionally, when examined in three-hour intervals, the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures ranged from a minimum of 5°C to a maximum of 13°C. These findings suggest that the internal temperature of the wholesale market reflects seasonal patterns, indicating a need for operational staff to implement low-temperature management manuals tailored to each season. Given that fisheries cooperatives operate the wholesale market, improving the temperature management manuals of the cooperatives and establishing standardized seasonal temperature management guidelines are necessary.