This study estimated the size of ornamental fish market as the basis survey for the development of the ornamental fish industry in Korea. It presents improvement projects agendas for the development of the Korean ornamental fish industry by investigating the challenges of the ornamental fish industry and consumer awareness. First, looking at the size of the ornamental fish market, calculated on the basis of survey results, the size of ornamental fish market is analysed as 231.8 billion won. The actual ornamental fish market is presumed to be much larger than this considering unclear gross sales from e-commerce and group sales, goods excluded from the ornamental fish export, expensive ornamental fish transaction from smuggling are missing. Ornamental fish industry and consumer awareness survey results can be described as follows: First, revenue structure of the ornamental fish market depends on a handful of expensive purchasing group rather than on low-cost consumption group. Second, many members of the ornamental fish producers, wholesalers, road shops are small-scale. Third, the sale of aquarium fish and aquarium fish related supplies in road shop have different market structures. Fourth, ornamental fish consumption is in the ongoing recession. Fifth, ornamental fish industry hopes for expansion of distribution and Research & Development. Sixth, satisfaction of ornamental fish consumers is generally low. As described above, ornamental fish industry in Korea are vulnerable in the market structure and industry is small and the consumer' s satisfaction degree is staying in the'normal'level. If current state will continue, future consumption can be reduced. It is necessary to increase the competitiveness by using 접수：2012년 11월 28일 최종심사：2012년 12월 24일 게재확정：2012년 12월 26일 †본 논문은 해양수산개발원에서 수행된 수시과제(정책연구 2010-06)의 내용을 수정•보완한 것임.