Mackerel from Jeju land-based fish farm signed export agreement to Japan

Mackerel grown in land-based fish farms in Jeju is exported to Japan.

The Jeju Creative Economy Innovation Center announced on the 27th that Megaplan, a local startup, and Times Co., Ltd., a Japanese seafood import wholesaler, recently signed a business agreement for the supply and sale of mackerel and also signed a letter of intent (LOI) to export.

Megaplan is producing mackerel at a land-based fish farm in Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si by developing a smart aquaculture solution that combines artificial intelligence (AI) behavior pattern analysis based on patented technology for mackerel spawning throughout the year.

This company shipped and sold the first generation of man-made mackerel in January 2025, proving its business model of producing live mackerel year-round, which was dependent on the season and catch amount.

Under this agreement, Megaplan will supply mackerel that meets the quality and hygiene standards required by the Japanese market, and Times will establish an import system to develop a sales channel in Japan.

The mega plan plans to gradually increase the volume, starting with export of 300 tons in 2028, to achieve annual export of 1,000 tons by 2031.

The two companies decided to review product specifications, packaging units, and price ranges together, check market reactions through tasting sessions and pilot sales, and reflect them in product development.

Times, founded in 1998, is a Tokyo-based trading company specializing in the import and sale of mackerel, with its headquarters in Tokyo and a sales office in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It is known that this company handles about 10% of the European mackerel distributed to Japan every year.

Japan is a market that consumes a lot of mackerel, but it relies on imports for a significant amount, so the amount of aquaculture that can be produced is considered significant in terms of procurement stability.

This export agreement was carried out with the support of Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group.

The Jeju Center discovered the 2024 Mega Plan as an incubator and supported commercialization funds and corporate briefing sessions through the Startup Business and Marine and Fisheries Accelerating Program. The following year, Jeju Center and MYSC (MYSC) invested through the jointly operated Jeju Early Startup Development Fund.

Megaplan was later selected as an excellent company at the Jeju Center Marine and Fisheries Integrated Demo Day.