Joint Crackdown with Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Coast Guard Until End of May
Preventing Illegal Capture and Distribution, Protecting Fishery Resources
Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province will conduct a special crackdown on illegal glass eel fishing until May 30.
According to the province on the 14th, this crackdown was initiated to prevent the illegal capture and distribution of glass eels and to protect fishery resources.
During this operation, the province plans to thoroughly inspect all stages from capture (including unlicensed fishing and fishing outside designated zones) to distribution and sales, in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the West Sea Fisheries Management Service, the Coast Guard, and city and county governments.
Eels spawn in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of about 300 meters, approximately 3,000 kilometers from Korea, and migrate upstream into rivers during the spring (from February to May). Since artificial seed production is difficult, it is common to capture wild glass eels for aquaculture.
Glass eels migrating to rivers and ports along the west coast can only be legally caught in designated areas such as the Geumgang Estuary and Gomso Bay. However, due to their high economic value, unlicensed illegal fishing is widespread.
The province, in cooperation with related agencies, will carry out strong guidance and crackdowns both at sea and on land, day and night, focusing on illegal hotspots such as the Geumgang Estuary, Saemangeum Seawall, and Gomso Bay.
From the peak season in March, Jeonbuk will permanently deploy patrol boats and strengthen monitoring of illegal fishing activities using drones, implementing crackdowns with advanced technology.
Additionally, to eradicate illegal fishing, banners will be installed in areas where illegal operations are frequent, such as the Geumgang Estuary, Saemangeum Seawall, and Gomso Bay. Education and promotional activities to prohibit illegal fishing will be conducted for fishermen and related parties.
Suh Jaehoe, head of the provincial Fisheries Policy Division, stated, "We will thoroughly guide and crack down on illegal fishing activities to protect glass eel resources," and added, "We will continue to establish fishing order and do our best to protect fishery resources through ongoing management and publicity."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
