Assemblyman Joo Chul-hyun, Included in 'Political Net Fishing' Reduction Targets, Expands 'Fishermen's Choice'

Published 10 Dec.2021 15:59(KST)

Allow Only Voluntary Reduction to Expand Fishermen's Choices, Not Government-Mandated Reduction

Assemblyman Joo Chul-hyun, Included in 'Political Net Fishing' Reduction Targets, Expands 'Fishermen's Choice'

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] A bill including licensed fishing operators engaged in political net fishing in the vessel reduction target project has been passed.

The amendment to the 「Coastal Fisheries Structural Improvement Act」, spearheaded by Representative Joo Cheol-hyun of the Democratic Party of Korea (Yeosu City Gap), was passed at the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th, fulfilling a long-standing wish of political net fishers.

According to Representative Joo Cheol-hyun, permitted fishing operators engaged in political partitioned fishing (such as Nangjang nets) have been included in the fisheries structural improvement (vessel reduction) targets, but political net fishing, which is very similar in gear and method to political partitioned fishing, has been excluded from vessel reduction because it is licensed fishing.

Representative Joo explained that recently, due to the protection of fishery resources, the establishment of closed seasons by fishery and species, and strengthened regulations on fishing gear, the environment for political net fishing operating near the coast has rapidly deteriorated, leading to an increase in political net fishers who prefer to give up fishing activities rather than continue.

This reflects the continuous demand from the fishing community to include political net fishing in the vessel reduction target projects to broaden the range of choices for fishing activities.

Furthermore, since forcibly depriving licensed political net fishers of their fishing rights through “government-initiated reduction” raises concerns such as infringement of private property, unlike permitted fishing, the bill limits political net fishing to “voluntary reduction” only.

Representative Joo Cheol-hyun emphasized, “By establishing the basis for including political net fishing in the scope of fisheries structural improvement projects, it is expected that more fishers will have a wider range of choices,” and added, “As a member of the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, I will continue to communicate and work to resolve the difficulties faced by fishers on site.”