Legal Shrimp Fishing in Ganghwado for the First Time in 26 Years... Introduction of Total Allowable Catch

Ganghwado Salted Shrimp Fishing
Photo by Incheon City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Fishermen on Ganghwa Island, Incheon, will be able to legally fish for small shrimp for the first time in 26 years.

Incheon City announced on the 10th that as a result of applying for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' pilot project to ease fishing regulations, starting next month, 26 coastal improved Ankang net fishing vessels in the Ganghwa coastal area will be able to legally operate within the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits.

The total allowable catch of small shrimp allocated to the Ganghwa waters this year is 2,420 tons.

The coastal improved Ankang net fishery became a sector unable to catch small shrimp after the related laws were revised in 1994, which increased the mesh size of the nets.

To prevent juvenile overfishing, mosquito net-like fine mesh nets were banned and the mesh size was regulated to be 25mm or larger, making it impossible to catch small shrimp with such nets.

Considering the difficulties faced by small shrimp fishermen, Incheon City has allowed temporary fishing through experimental or seasonal fishing permits in consultation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Small shrimp caught in the Ganghwa waters during autumn account for 60 to 70% of the national catch, and the 'Saeujeot Festival' is held every October in Ganghwa County, making it a representative seafood specialty of Incheon.

The small shrimp auction volumes over the past five years were 618 tons in 2015, 1,608 tons in 2016, 1,375 tons in 2017, 1,155 tons in 2018, and 140 tons in 2019. The auction value last year was 7.771 billion KRW.

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