Kim Jaejun of Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly Leads Eco-Friendly Fishing Gear Ordinance to Finals of 'Best Practice Contest'

Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly member Kim Jaejun (People Power Party, Uljin) announced on the 24th that the "Ordinance on Promoting the Use of Eco-Friendly Fishing Gear for the Protection of the Marine Ecosystem in Gyeongsangbuk-do," which he sponsored, has achieved the notable accomplishment of advancing to the finals of the "2025 Local Assembly Best Practice Contest" organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

This contest was held for metropolitan and basic local assemblies nationwide, with 101 cases submitted from across the country. The Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly was selected as an excellent ordinance among the 12 cases that advanced to the finals.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly member Jaejun Kim (left) is holding a congratulatory bouquet and posing for a commemorative photo as he has been confirmed to advance to the finals of the Best Practice Contest.

The ordinance, which was sponsored by Kim Jaejun and enacted last March, received high praise for being the first in the nation to establish a legal basis for promoting the use of eco-friendly fishing gear.

The core contents of the ordinance specify support projects in five areas: development and expanded use of eco-friendly fishing gear, collection and disposal of discarded fishing gear, education and publicity for the fishing gear deposit system, establishment of an unmanned return system, and more. It also establishes a comprehensive support system, including fact-finding surveys and the creation of cooperative frameworks.

Notably, this ordinance led to immediate results right after its enactment. Following the ordinance, an additional budget of 330 million won was allocated as a new project in the second supplementary budget for 2025, and a project is currently underway to supply eco-friendly fishing gear to 25 fishing vessels in the two cities and counties of Yeongdeok and Uljin.

Currently, out of the 145,000 tons of marine waste generated annually in Korea, discarded fishing gear accounts for 38,000 tons (26.2%). The estimated annual damage to fishery resources caused by ghost fishing is about 400 billion won, highlighting the urgent need to protect the marine environment.

Kim Jaejun stated, "I am very pleased that the eco-friendly fishing gear ordinance, the first of its kind in the nation, has been recognized as an outstanding case by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety." He added, "It is even more meaningful that the enactment of the ordinance did not end as mere legislation but immediately led to budget allocation, becoming a model case for the realization of practical policy." He emphasized, "Going forward, we will gradually expand the target areas and scale of support for the protection of the marine ecosystem and sustainable development of the fisheries industry, and do our best to ensure that the policy delivers tangible results for fishermen."

Meanwhile, the contest was held on the 21st at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center, where Kim Jaejun personally presented the background and achievements of the ordinance on site, receiving positive reviews.

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