National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (NFFC) Chairman Noh Dong-jin / Courtesy of NFFC

The Middle East and South America have emerged as the new markets for Korean seafood exports.

National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (NFFC) Chairman Noh Dong-jin told reporters on Monday that the federation will help seafood exporters enter the markets with high growth potential, reducing their reliance on Greater China, which includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

"Four out of our 11 trade support centers in eight foreign countries are located in Greater China, making it difficult for us to increase exports significantly," Noh said during a press conference in Sejong.

"While pushing ahead with relocation of several centers from Greater China to the Middle East and South America next year, we will devise strategies tailored for each region."

He added that the NFFC plans to open a different type of foreign office, allowing the federation to export seafood products directly and distribute them abroad.

According to the NFFC, its trade support centers have just helped exports of each seafood company.

The federation mentioned Japan as the strongest candidate to accommodate its new office, citing the country's growing imports of abalone, halibut and conger eels from Korea.

During the press conference, Noh also vowed to cope with the rising sea surface temperatures impacting the nation's fisheries industry.

"Climate change is a very important issue that affects the supply of foods," he said.

After the sea surface temperature hike damaged aquaculturists and fishers fishing in coastal areas, the NFCC launched a study to enable them to adapt to the rapidly changing fisheries environment.

"As soon as the study's results come out, we will convince the government and lawmakers to draw up a budget to support fishers," Noh said.

The NFCC chairman also welcomed the proposal for a special act on offshore wind power, which would benefit fishers.

"Although offshore wind power is necessary infrastructure for the nation's energy policy, the current development method has ignored the opinions of fishers and lacked measures to protect the fisheries industry, so we will do our best for the National Assembly to pass the proposed bill," he said.