Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Abolish Half of Over 1,500 Fishing Regulations by 2027

The government plans to abolish nearly half of the 1,500 regulations by 2027 to enhance the convenience and operational efficiency of fishermen.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the "Fisheries Advancement Promotion Plan" at the National Policy Issues Ministerial Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

The Ministry explained that based on fisheries-related laws established 115 years ago, various regulations have accumulated, leading to a decline in fisheries productivity and continued overfishing, which has intensified inefficiencies and conflicts in the fishing industry.

Accordingly, they decided to transform the fisheries system framework by simplifying regulations and introducing an internationally standardized fisheries management system. In particular, to strengthen food safety, which has recently gained significant public interest, they plan to provide the public with accurate information on catch locations.

On the 4th, as the 11th typhoon 'Hinnamnor' is moving north, fishing boats have taken shelter at Yeonan Pier in Jung-gu, Incheon. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Specifically, the "non-invasive precision inspection" of fishing vessel engines currently applied to vessels under 5 tons will be expanded to all coastal vessels under 10 tons. This inspection method checks the internal condition of the engine using an endoscope without disassembling the engine. For vessels over 5 tons, an open inspection is required, which incurs high costs and has been a significant burden for fishermen, reflecting their difficulties.

Additionally, by establishing a market-friendly fisheries management system focused on catch volume, a total allowable catch (TAC) system will be fully implemented for all fishing vessels by 2027. This is expected to restore resource levels and improve fisheries productivity in the long term.

A management and supervision system compliant with international fisheries management methods will also be established. The introduction of a "Korean-style catch certification system" will preemptively block the inflow of illegal seafood domestically and internationally, creating a sound seafood distribution environment. Furthermore, a system will be established to allow consumers to verify seafood production information, enabling safe consumption.

Automatic location transmitters will be installed on all fishing vessels to accurately track their positions.

Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated, "Through this measure, we expect to significantly reduce administrative management costs by efficiently transforming the outdated and rigid regulation-focused fisheries management system to meet international standards." He added, "This measure is also expected to act as a positive factor in international trade negotiations, leading to an increase in our seafood exports."

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