Assemblyman Yoon Jae-gap Leads Efforts for Sustainable Fisheries Resource Development

Expansion of Fisheries Resource Development Fund and Establishment of Systematic Management Basis for Fishery By-products

Yoon Jae-gap, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Haenam, Wando, Jindo)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Congressman Yoon Jae-gap (Haenam·Wando·Jindo) proposed partial amendments to the "Fisheries Resources Management Act" and the "Fisheries Act" on the 25th to establish sustainable fisheries resources in South Korea.

While the annual per capita consumption of seafood in South Korea is steadily increasing, the production volume of seafood through coastal and distant-water fisheries is rapidly decreasing every year.

The main environmental cause of the decline in seafood production is the change in water temperature. The discharge of heated water from power plants accelerates the rate of temperature change, raising concerns about disruption of the marine ecosystem and reduced production.

To address these issues, fisheries resource creation projects are being conducted to restore the marine ecosystem and secure fisheries resources through the creation of sea forests, installation of artificial reefs, and release of seeds. For this purpose, levies are imposed on the fisheries industry and users occupying fisheries resources.

Congressman Yoon Jae-gap stated, "I have proposed a partial amendment to the 'Fisheries Resources Management Act' to impose levies for fisheries resource creation projects on power plant operators discharging heated water that threatens the marine ecosystem in order to establish sustainable fisheries resources."

Meanwhile, as seafood consumption has increased, the amount of seafood by-products has also risen. However, unlike overseas, seafood by-products are mostly discarded without being recycled or converted into resources, causing environmental problems.

In response, Congressman Yoon proposed an amendment to the "Fisheries Act" that clearly defines the scope of seafood by-products and includes provisions for establishing basic plans for by-product recycling, conducting statistical surveys, and setting up centers. He said, "We will reduce environmental pollution through proper utilization and management of seafood by-products."

He added, "Environmental issues caused by rising seawater temperatures due to heated water discharge and the disposal of by-products are very important problems," and emphasized, "We will do our best to ensure the prompt passage of the amendment bill for the preservation of a sustainable marine ecosystem and the creation of fisheries resources, not just to solve immediate issues."

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