Proposal for Amendment to 'Small-Scale Fishing Households and Crew Fisheries Direct Payment'

Representative Proposal by Lee Yang-su, Member of the People Power Party

On the 4th, fishing boats are taking shelter at Yeonan Pier in Jung-gu, Incheon, as the 11th typhoon 'Hinnamnor' approaches. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Starting next year, a bill has been proposed in the National Assembly to provide separate fisheries public interest direct payments to small-scale fishing households and crew members nationwide.

Lee Yang-su, a member of the People Power Party and the secretary of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, announced on the 10th that he has taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Act on the Operation of Direct Payment System for the Promotion of Public Interest Functions in Fisheries and Fishing Villages (Fisheries Direct Payment Act)" containing such provisions.

If the amendment passes, according to the enforcement decree, fishing households with annual fishing income of 30 million KRW or less and crew members with an annual labor period of six months or more will be eligible to receive a direct payment of 1.2 million KRW per household starting next year. This aims to include fishing households and crew members with high income instability in the fisheries public interest direct payment recipients to promote the public interest functions of fisheries and prevent the disappearance of fishing villages.

Although the fisheries public interest direct payment system has been in operation since last year to promote the public interest functions of fisheries and fishing villages and prevent their disappearance, several issues have emerged, such as stringent payment criteria that do not reflect the realities of the fisheries industry and lower rates compared to agriculture and forestry. There was also controversy over fairness between industries due to the complete lack of support for small-scale fishing households.

Additionally, unlike employees in other sectors, most crew members have a wage system based on a share system, resulting in very high income instability. Despite this, they were excluded from the payment targets of the fisheries public interest direct payment system, which aims to compensate income, leading to criticism that the purpose has been undermined.

Fisheries and fishing villages not only provide food for the nation but also create about 1.3 trillion KRW annually in public interest value through marine environment conservation, maritime territory protection, marine disaster rescue, and traditional culture inheritance. However, due to low birth rates, aging, and regional extinction, it is predicted that about 80% of fishing villages will disappear by 2045.

Representative Lee said, "Minimum livelihood support is necessary for fishers who are responsible for the nation's food and preserving our seas," adding, "The fisheries public interest direct payment is expected to contribute to revitalizing fisheries and fishing villages and maintaining their public interest functions."

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