Friends of MESA - The Cool Seas of Planet Ocean

Fisheries in South Korea

Korea may be the seafood capital of the world - but for how long?

The productive waters of Korea support a large commercial fishing industry. This table shows the catches in metric tonnes of the main types of commercial species in Korean waters in 1995. (Source: Korean Year Book 1995).

FISH GROUP

TOTAL CATCH IN METRIC TONNES FOR 1995

Fishes

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Other aquatic animals

Seaweeds

1,694,827

120,005

826,853

35,027

671,472

Figures show that the annual combined commercial catch of marine animals and plants in Korea is steadily increasing. Seafood is such an important part of the daily diet of most Korean people, that with its rapidly increasing population, Korea must ensure that its fisheries are well managed into the future.

Unfortunately, present management of Korea's commercial fisheries may not ensure their sustainable future. Commercial fishers do not require permits and there are no set catch limits on any species. Although there are limits to fishing seasons and size limits for some species, most fishers only target one species and take as much as they can.

All commercial fishers must nevertheless be members of a fishery union, as it is only through these unions that they can legally sell their fish. Catch statistics are collected from the fishery unions. These statistics do not take into account the traditional or recreational fishing that takes place in Korea - and this is considerable.

There are no regulations or permits that apply to traditional fishers. Scientists believe that traditional fisheries in Korea are sustainable due to the low numbers and volume of species caught and the traditional practice of regularly changing fishing locations - effectively farming these cool seas in a rotating fashion.

It is unknown what the long term sustainability of Korea's commercial and traditional fisheries will be. Korean marine biologists are aware of the problem and are identifying the need for firmer regulations. Some scientists are working to establish marine reserves in Korea to ensure that important habitat areas are protected.

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Fisheries in South Korea
Korea may be the seafood capital of the world - but for how long? The productive waters of Korea support a large commercial fishing industry. This table shows the catches in metric tonnes of the main types of commercial species in Korean waters in 1995. (Source: Korean Year Book 1995).
FISH GROUP		TOTAL CATCH IN METRIC TONNES FOR 1995
Fishes Crustaceans Molluscs Other aquatic animals Seaweeds		1,694,827 120,005 826,853 35,027 671,472

Figures show that the annual combined commercial catch of marine animals and plants in Korea is steadily increasing. Seafood is such an important part of the daily diet of most Korean people, that with its rapidly increasing population, Korea must ensure that its fisheries are well managed into the future. Unfortunately, present management of Korea's commercial fisheries may not ensure their sustainable future. Commercial fishers do not require permits and there are no set catch limits on any species. Although there are limits to fishing seasons and size limits for some species, most fishers only target one species and take as much as they can. All commercial fishers must nevertheless be members of a fishery union, as it is only through these unions that they can legally sell their fish. Catch statistics are collected from the fishery unions. These statistics do not take into account the traditional or recreational fishing that takes place in Korea - and this is considerable. There are no regulations or permits that apply to traditional fishers. Scientists believe that traditional fisheries in Korea are sustainable due to the low numbers and volume of species caught and the traditional practice of regularly changing fishing locations - effectively farming these cool seas in a rotating fashion. It is unknown what the long term sustainability of Korea's commercial and traditional fisheries will be. Korean marine biologists are aware of the problem and are identifying the need for firmer regulations. Some scientists are working to establish marine reserves in Korea to ensure that important habitat areas are protected.

	Back to Hot Issues In Korea's Cool Waters