'Forced Closure' of Inland Cage Aquaculture Industry, Compensation Procedures Begin

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] Compensation procedures for inland cage aquaculture operators who were forced to close down due to non-renewal of licenses since 1991, following the government's Comprehensive Clean Water Supply Measures announced in 1989, will begin after 30 years.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 4th that the Enforcement Decree of the "Special Act on Compensation for Losses Due to Non-Renewal of Inland Cage Aquaculture Licenses" (Inland Cage Aquaculture Compensation Act) was approved at the Cabinet meeting and will be enforced starting from the 27th.

The enforcement decree includes provisions for operating a Loss Compensation Measures Committee, procedures for applying and paying compensation, and procedures for decisions on compensation payments or objections.

Applicants wishing to apply for compensation must submit a copy of the inland fishery license issued when operating the aquaculture business, as well as copies of maps showing the location of the fishery and the water area. Documents proving the residual value of facilities due to closure, demolition costs, and seedling disposal costs must also be submitted.

The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries must notify the applicant of the decision on whether to pay compensation and the amount of compensation. The government estimates that the total compensation payment will reach 22.8 billion KRW.

The Comprehensive Clean Water Supply Measures were established in September 1989 as a water source quality management policy in response to a tap water pollution incident where heavy metals exceeding standards were detected in major water sources such as Soyanggang, Daecheong, Andong, Chungju, and Seomjingang dams. Through this measure, the government decided to issue new licenses for inland cage aquaculture, which had been renewed every ten years since 1975, only until 1990. Licenses held by existing operators were no longer to be renewed. Accordingly, aquaculture operators raising trout and carp in water source lakes or dams such as Chungjuho, Soyanggang Dam, Andong Dam, and Cheongpyeong Dam filed various lawsuits and constitutional complaints against the government to cancel the 'non-renewal of licenses,' but all were dismissed.

Aquaculture operators who closed their businesses without license renewal have continuously demanded compensation through legislative petitions. Accordingly, a bill proposed by independent lawmaker Lee Yong-ho in the 21st National Assembly passed the plenary session of the National Assembly in April last year, and the Inland Cage Aquaculture Compensation Act was enacted in May, one month later.

Heo Man-wook, Director of the Aquaculture Industry Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Fishermen who suffered damage due to the non-renewal of inland cage aquaculture licenses will be able to receive appropriate compensation," adding, "We will form a Loss Compensation Measures Committee and proceed with the compensation application procedures to ensure the compensation payment process is implemented smoothly."

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