Chungho Seo Proposes Amendment to the Fisheries Act

Preparing for the Cape Town Agreement
Pushing for an Overhaul of Distant-Water Fishing Vessel Safety Management Systems

Chungho Seo, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party representing Sacheon, Namhae, and Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province, has sponsored the partial amendment bill to the Fisheries Act to overhaul the safety management system for distant-water fishing vessels in preparation for the Cape Town Agreement, an international convention on fishing vessel safety set to take effect in 2027.

This amendment aims to establish a fishing vessel safety management system in line with international standards and strengthen the safety of both distant-water vessels and their crew members.

The Cape Town Agreement is an international convention designed to standardize the structure, equipment, and safety standards of fishing vessels globally. It is scheduled to enter into force on February 24, 2027.

[Photo by Chungho Seo, National Assembly Office] Photo of Chungho Seo

However, the current Fisheries Act lacks detailed provisions regarding international convention inspections, issuance of safety certificates, and port state control, all of which are necessary for implementing the agreement. As a result, there has been a persistent need for institutional reforms.

The proposed amendment requires distant-water fishing vessels of 950 gross tons or more engaged in international voyages to be equipped with wireless communication equipment that meets the agreement’s standards. For distant-water vessels of 300 gross tons or more, international convention inspections would become mandatory.

Additionally, the bill establishes the legal basis for the issuance and retention of International Fishing Vessel Safety Certificates and International Fishing Vessel Exemption Certificates, and calls for improvements to the port state control system for foreign fishing vessels entering or scheduled to enter domestic ports.

It also includes provisions for special inspections of Korean distant-water fishing vessels and sanctions for violations, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of implementing the international convention.

Chungho Seo stated, "With the Cape Town Agreement set to take effect, it is necessary to align the safety management system for distant-water fishing vessels with international standards. Through this amendment, we will proactively lay the groundwork for the domestic implementation of the agreement and further strengthen the protection of our distant-water fishing vessels and their crews."

He added, "As fishing vessel safety is directly linked to the lives of fishermen, I will continue to do my utmost to improve relevant systems and establish robust safety management frameworks in the field."

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