Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 62 Nearshore Fishing Vessels in 8 Sectors Failing Reduction Targets to Be Mandatorily Reduced

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has decided to unilaterally reduce a total of 62 vessels for 8 coastal fishery sectors that failed to meet the targets under the coastal vessel reduction plan, which is implemented to restore coastal fishery production and protect marine resources.

The Ministry announced on the 4th that it has established the "2021 Coastal Vessel Unilateral Reduction Promotion Plan" containing these details and will announce it until June 4.

Earlier, the Ministry had planned to reduce a total of 131 vessels targeting 11 sectors, including those unable to operate in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) due to stalled Korea-Japan fishery negotiations and sectors requiring recovery of marine resources such as squid. Based on this, applications from fishermen were accepted until February, but 8 sectors applied for 62 fewer vessels than planned.

By sector, this includes 20 coastal longline vessels, 19 coastal gillnet vessels, and 4 coastal jigging vessels.

The Ministry plans to impose sanctions such as gradually reducing the supply of duty-free fuel and lowering the credit limit for new loans if the unilateral reduction targets do not comply with the vessel reduction procedures without justifiable reasons.