GS E&C has demonstrated land-based Atlantic salmon farming through its subsidiary Eco Aqua Farm and plans to begin full-scale shipments late this year. The company developed the operation around a closed recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), which filters and reuses rearing water, combined with information and communications technology. The Busan Smart Aquaculture Cluster facility can produce up to 500 tons annually. Eco Aqua Farm has managed the full production cycle since 2020, from stocking eyed eggs through hatching, fish growth, water-quality control and shipment preparation. Its system can reuse up to 99% of rearing water and maintained temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees Celsius during summer heat waves. The farm also controls salinity, dissolved oxygen and water flow, while sensors monitor equipment and automatically adjust operating conditions. GS E&C has pursued patents covering water treatment, recirculating and desalination aquaculture, as well as an underwater-camera system for assessing fish growth. Eco Aqua Farm has obtained seafood traceability registration, HACCP (food-safety certification) approval and antibiotic-free certification for its salmon. GS E&C says it will use the technology and operating data from the demonstration to build a broader land-based aquaculture platform.