Jeonbuk Province Promotes Removal of Illegal Anchor Nets in Buan Wangdeungdo Waters

Starting Administrative Enforcement Procedures from the 17th

Photo by Jeonbuk Province Provided

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jaehee] Jeonbuk Province is launching an administrative enforcement to remove illegal fishing gear to prevent overfishing of marine resources and establish fishing order.

On the 11th, the province announced that it will begin administrative enforcement procedures from the 17th to simultaneously remove illegal fishing gear indiscriminately installed near Wangdeungdo Island in Buan-gun.

In the Jeonbuk waters, the use of gill nets with attached spreaders (commonly known as anchor gill nets) is completely prohibited under the Enforcement Decree of the Fisheries Act.

However, for over ten years, illegal installation of anchor gill nets has increased in the southwestern waters of Wangdeungdo Island, Buan-gun, which is far from the mainland and difficult to monitor and control.

This is aimed at illegal capture of marine resources and preemptive occupation of fishing grounds, causing problems such as depletion of marine resources, conflicts and disputes between industries, and vessel safety accidents.

The illegal anchor gill nets installed in the waters of Wangdeungdo Island, Buan-gun, amount to about 200 sets, totaling 800 tons, with a length of approximately 80 km.

Accordingly, Jeonbuk Province plans to forcibly remove the illegal anchor gill nets after issuing warnings from the 17th onward, in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, West Sea Fisheries Management Unit, Buan-gun, and Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Public Corporation, to establish fishing order, prevent vessel accidents, and protect marine resources.

However, during the warning period, voluntary removal of illegal fishing gear by fishermen will be encouraged to minimize unexpected damages caused by administrative enforcement.

Furthermore, even after the administrative enforcement, fishing patrol vessels will be deployed and thorough follow-up management through guidance and control will be implemented to eradicate illegal installation of anchor gill nets.

Lee Yong-seon, Director of Fisheries Policy Division, said, “The removal of illegal fishing gear will establish fishing order and discipline and further serve as an opportunity to improve the habitat environment of marine resources and lay the foundation for resource recovery.” He added, “Above all, voluntary participation of fishermen, such as voluntary removal of anchor gill nets during the warning period, is required.”

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