Ganghwado Border Waters Fishing Grounds Expanded for the First Time in 60 Years... Three Times the Size of Yeouido

Adjustment of Fishing Boundary Lines in Border Sea Areas
Expansion of Changhu Fishing Ground by 2.2㎢ and Gyodong Fishing Ground by 6㎢

The fishing ground area where our fishing vessels can operate in the waters near Ganghwa Island, Incheon, adjacent to North Korea, will significantly increase for the first time in 60 years.

On the 1st, Incheon City announced that the fishing boundary line in the Ganghwa border waters will be substantially adjusted through the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Vessel Safety Fishing Act (scheduled for legislative notice). The expanded fishing ground area in the Ganghwa waters is 8.2㎢, which is three times the size of Yeouido, Seoul (2.9㎢).

The fishing boundary line in this area was established in June 1964 at the request of the Ministry of National Defense to prevent the abduction of our fishing vessels and ensure safe fishing in waters adjacent to North Korea. It was a vessel entry control line set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (now the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) at that time, serving as a legal baseline to prohibit approaching the Northern Limit Line (NLL). Therefore, fishing activities beyond the fishing boundary line are not permitted.

However, when it was set in the 1960s, six ports and harbors in the Ganghwa area close to North Korean waters (Changhu Port, Wolseonpo Port, Namsanpo Port, Juksanpo Port, Seogeom Port, Boleum Port) were located outside this fishing boundary line, and fishermen in Ganghwa Island have continuously demanded the expansion of the fishing boundary line.

These demands from local fishermen were not accepted due to national security reasons, and in 2020, the Vessel Safety Fishing Act was newly established with stricter penalties than the existing law, resulting in situations where vessels departing from these ports and harbors were punished for violating the fishing boundary line. Under current law, violating the fishing boundary line results in administrative sanctions of fishing suspension for 30 to 90 days and criminal penalties of imprisonment for up to one year or fines up to 10 million KRW.

Adjustment of the fishing boundary line in the Ganghwa border sea area [Provided by Incheon City]

With the revision of the Enforcement Decree, it is expected that violations and penalties related to relevant laws for fishermen in the Ganghwa area will be resolved. Additionally, the Changhu fishing ground will expand by 2.2㎢, and the Gyodong fishing ground by 6㎢, shortening the transport routes for catches, reducing expenses for fishermen, and increasing the catch of shrimp and blue crabs, which is expected to increase annual income by more than 2 billion KRW.

However, not all fishing grounds around the six ports and harbors where vessel entry and fishing were regulated have been expanded. For security reasons, Juksanpo Port and Seogeom Port have newly established entry and exit routes under special provisions, allowing free entry and exit for fishing purposes.

Incheon City evaluated this measure as the result of close consultations among government ministries, military authorities, and related agencies, facilitated by the continuous proposals of Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and the active mediation of Bae Jun-young, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party representing the local district.

Mayor Yoo said, "Although it is regrettable that the fishing boundary line was partially reduced from the originally proposed line by Incheon City due to security and patrol issues, we have achieved a significant adjustment of the fishing boundary line for the first time in 60 years," adding, "We will continue to strive to improve fishing conditions in the border waters."

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