Haenam-gun Holds Fishermen Meeting to Resolve Manho Fishing Rights Issue

County Governor Myeonhyeon-gwan: "We Will Actively Work with Related Agencies to Find Solutions"

Haenam-gun held a fishermen's meeting at Eoran Suhyup in Songji-myeon to seek solutions for the Manho fishing area fishing rights issue. (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam County (Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan) announced on the 2nd that it held a fishermen's meeting on the 31st of last month at the Songji-myeon Eoran Fisheries Cooperative to seek solutions to the fishing rights issues in the Manho fishing area.

This meeting was organized to listen to the opinions of 174 fishermen who use the Manho fishing area as their livelihood, but due to COVID-19, it was held with the attendance of seven representatives from the county, council, fisheries cooperative, and fishermen.

The lawsuit related to the Manho fishing area completed its third hearing at the Haenam Branch Court on the 12th of last month, but no mediation plan for an amicable resolution has been reached, with the fourth hearing scheduled for the 21st.

As the seaweed seedling season approaches, fishermen in Haenam County have held two protest rallies in front of the Jeonnam Provincial Office, escalating conflicts over fishing rights in the Manho fishing area to a peak.

The fishermen who participated in the meeting expressed frustration over the ongoing disputes despite the agreement made in 1994 during the conflict that the upper part of the sea would be used by Jindo and the lower part by Haenam, following the development of the Manho fishing grounds since 1982 at the risk of their lives. Furthermore, in 2011, Jeollanam-do additionally approved a 1,370-hectare license to Jindo County to end the dispute, yet conflicts continue to recur.

They also voiced concerns that if access to the Manho fishing area is blocked, it would not only jeopardize the fishermen's livelihoods but also cause various problems in the local economy and community. They appealed for the guarantee of fishing rights so that they can continue aquaculture in the Manho fishing area, their only means of livelihood.

Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan stated, “We promise not to spare administrative and financial support to resolve issues related to the Manho fishing area,” and added, “We will also continue to consider and support areas that can help fishermen related to the seaweed industry.”

He emphasized, “To solve the problem, the county, council, fisheries cooperative, and fishermen will continue to actively consult, and we will strive to guarantee the fishermen's right to livelihood.”

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