Exports of Korean seafood edged up 1.5 percent in the first three months of 2016 from a year earlier on brisk demand from the United States and China, the maritime ministry said Tuesday.

The country's outbound shipments of fish, shellfish and seaweed was valued at $435 million during the January-March period, up from $429 million tallied a year ago, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

In particular, exports reached $183 million in March, marking the highest monthly value since April 2015, added the ministry.

Exports to the U.S. jumped 26 percent on-year to $65 million over the three-month period, while China imported $81 million worth of Korean seafood, up 17.1 percent from a year earlier.

"Gim," or dried seaweed, and squid lent support to the first-quarter uptick, with exports of "gim" rising 15.6 percent on-year to $76.7 million and those of squid soaring 49.8 percent to $30.4 million. (Yonhap)