Announcement of Major Achievement Plans in the Marine and Fisheries Sector on the 13th
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has decided to abolish nearly half of the approximately 1,500 fishing vessel fishery regulations by 2028.
Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is responding to questions from lawmakers at the plenary meeting of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Oceans and Fisheries Committee held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
On the 13th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced major achievements and promotion plans in the marine and fisheries sector. First, the ministry plans to abolish about 50% of the approximately 1,500 regulations that control fishing seasons and methods by 2028, and shift to a system that manages allowable catch volumes. To establish the institutional foundation for this, the enactment of the "Sustainable Coastal Fisheries Development Act" will be accelerated.
To increase the productivity of aquaculture, which accounts for more than 60% of Korea's seafood production, the smart aquaculture cluster will be expanded to five locations by 2027. Land-based fish farms will be converted to smart aquaculture facilities by up to 10%, and waste discharge production facilities will be automated and modernized by up to 25%. Additionally, the fisheries industry will be developed into a 5 trillion won export industry (approximately 3.6 billion USD at current exchange rates). In particular, the seaweed industry will be supported for scaling up and high value-added production, aiming to achieve 1 billion USD in exports by 2027.
To support the leap to an export powerhouse, a stable maritime logistics supply chain will be established. Construction of the new Jinhae Port in Busan will begin next year to create the world's largest smart mega port. Through this, the cargo handling capacity of Busan Port is planned to be expanded by up to twice the current capacity.
Furthermore, by 2027, Korea's maritime transport capacity will be expanded to 120 million tons, and through the eco-friendly transition of domestic vessels, approximately 290,000 tons of carbon dioxide will be reduced by 2027. Infrastructure investment for domestic and international logistics security will also be expanded. Overseas logistics hubs that can prioritize handling Korean companies' cargo will be increased to eight locations by 2027 (currently five).
In particular, new logistics centers will be established in Eastern Europe, including Croatia, where export expansion is expected. Domestic logistics security systems will also be strengthened. To protect Korean ports from unauthorized drone threats, anti-drone systems will be installed at 10 major ports, starting with Busan, Ulsan, and Incheon, by 2027.
Efforts will also be made to create a clean ocean that future generations can enjoy together. Marine protected areas will be doubled by 2027 compared to the current size, and full lifecycle management will be implemented for "discarded fishing gear (nets, buoys, etc.)," which accounts for about 75% of marine debris. The fishing gear deposit system, currently applied to 26% of lost gear, will be expanded to 60% by 2027. Management will be strengthened by immediately towing illegal fishing gear.
Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, "In the second half of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will actively resolve pressing livelihood and economic issues and produce tangible results that the public can feel," adding, "We will do our best to achieve the national policy goals of becoming a global marine and fisheries hub and a dynamic economy led by the private sector."
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