South Korea's Preliminary Designation as an Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Country Lifted Early After 4 Months

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The preliminary designation of South Korea as an illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing country by the United States in September last year has been lifted.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 23rd, on the 21st (local time), the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a Preliminary Positive Certification Determination. A government official explained, "After 125 days of being preliminarily designated as an IUU fishing country, we have been freed from this dishonor, alleviating concerns over U.S. market sanctions, and have restored our national status as a responsible fishing nation."

In December 2017, two South Korean distant-water vessels violated conservation measures of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) by fishing in the Antarctic waters despite the closure notice. As a result, the U.S. designated South Korea as a preliminary IUU fishing country in its '2019 International Fisheries Management Improvement Report' submitted to the U.S. Congress last September.

At that time, the U.S. reported to Congress that the fines under South Korea's Distant Water Fisheries Development Act were insufficient to deprive economic gains obtained through illegal fishing, indicating a lack of deterrence against illegal fishing. In response, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries negotiated with the U.S. last year to introduce a penalty system through amendments to the Distant Water Fisheries Development Act. It was agreed to exceptionally expedite the lifting decision, which is usually made two years after the preliminary IUU fishing country designation. The government and the National Assembly completed the amendment to the Distant Water Fisheries Development Act within four months after the bill was submitted.

At the request of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in October last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries jointly held a Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Environmental Consultation in Seoul to fully explain South Korea's efforts to eradicate illegal fishing. Additional bilateral consultations were held with officials from NOAA and the U.S. Department of State. Subsequently, the U.S. reviewed whether the amended Distant Water Fisheries Development Act could effectively control illegal fishing and, as a result, issued the Preliminary Positive Certification Determination.

Going forward, the government plans to complete the amendment of the enforcement decree of the Distant Water Fisheries Development Act within this year, including standards and procedures for imposing penalties. Additionally, to eradicate illegal fishing, discussions will be held with the U.S. side regarding the establishment of a Korea-U.S. Fisheries Cooperation Council, which was proposed last year.

A government official stated, "Securing the sustainability of fishery resources through the eradication of IUU fishing is an important challenge faced by the international community," adding, "Taking this opportunity, the government will make every effort together with the industry and civic groups to prevent the recurrence of illegal fishing so that distrust from the international community and concerns from our citizens will never arise again due to IUU fishing."

Meanwhile, another government official said, "The early lifting of the preliminary IUU fishing country designation by the U.S. is the result of strengthening the legal response base through the prompt amendment of the Distant Water Fisheries Development Act with bipartisan cooperation in our National Assembly, and the thorough explanation of our strong will to eradicate IUU fishing through consultation channels among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in each field," adding, "Above all, it is evaluated to be based on the mutual trust relationship of the traditional Korea-U.S. alliance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.