MoF "Styrofoam Buoys to Be Phased Out in 2 Years"... Establishment of Basic Plan for Fishery Management

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] By 2024, all styrofoam buoys used in fish farms will be replaced with certified buoys, and monitoring of effluent from land-based fish farms will be strengthened.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that the partial amendment bill of the "Fishery Management Act," which includes the "4th Basic Plan for Fishery Management," was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 5th.

Fishery grounds refer to the water surfaces of fish farms producing seaweed, oysters, sea squirts, as well as village fishery grounds producing clams and ark shells. To establish a sustainable aquaculture production base, fishery grounds must be efficiently managed and conserved.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated that it has established the 4th Basic Plan for Fishery Management based on three main strategies: utilization and conservation of clean fishery grounds, strengthening responsibility for fishery ground management, and building a proactive fishery ground management foundation.

First, management will be strengthened to maintain the environment of fishery grounds, such as water quality, at a certain level, and support projects to reduce pollutants like microplastics generated from aquaculture will be expanded. Clean fishery ground restoration projects will be reinforced by expanding sediment pollutant removal and relocating fishery grounds for major fish farms. Through support for buoy replacement costs and equipment for buoy transportation and installation, styrofoam buoys used in fish farms will be replaced with certified buoys by 2024.

The scope of fishery ground environmental assessments will be expanded from about 300 fish cage farms to approximately 10,000 fish farms by 2025, encouraging fishermen to manage fishery grounds responsibly. An implementation evaluation system for fishery ground cleanup and maintenance projects will be developed to actively involve fishermen. A system of enforcement fines for those who do not clean fishery grounds and expanded incentives for fishery ground environment improvement projects will be introduced to establish a participatory fishery ground management system.

Choi Hyun-ho, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "This basic plan was established with a focus on creating a clean fishery ground environment that future generations can enjoy together," and added, "We will do our best to faithfully implement the basic plan through the participation and cooperation of related agencies, local governments, and fishermen."

원본보기 아이콘

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.