South Korea: TAC with no effect on resource protection needs to be thoroughly reviewed

Seafood

South Korea

Published Dec 12, 2022

Tridge summary

Although the total allowable catch (TAC) system has been in place for more than 20 years, it does not show any effect on resource protection. Squid resources decreased significantly after the implementation of TAC. In the past, more than 100,000 tonnes of squid caught per year have fallen to 50,000 tonnes. However, regulations such as prohibited lengths and prohibited fishing were rather strengthened. There are no incentives at all for industries implementing TAC. Allocating TAC based on three years of catches does not make sense, and it is not fair. In particular, the industry that catches migratory fish species is only a big limiting factor that restricts fishing activities. Also, if there is no squid, you should be able to catch mackerel or sandfish, but you cannot change the target fish species. Even a cow laughs when it is said that when a Spanish mackerel is caught, the Dorumuk TAC calculates the amount consumed. In addition, if Korean offshore fisheries conduct TAC to protect resources without catching all migratory fish, Japanese and Chinese fishing boats can catch them as much as they like.

Original content

This is because migratory resources move beyond the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to the sea of neighboring countries along with growth, and the fishing grounds also move according to changes in the marine environment, that is, water temperature. It is said that Japan and China do not enforce TAC as strongly as we do and are only mimicking it. In other words, it means that blind resource management by TAC is not the best for fisheries that catch migratory fish species or multiple fish species, such as Korea, Japan, and China. Now, Korea also needs to completely reform the TAC system that suits us. In particular, considering the reality of fisheries where various fish species are caught in various fisheries, it is necessary to flexibly protect and manage fishery resources. First of all, it is necessary to improve the obligatory attachment of fishing vessel positioning devices. This system is for the safe operation of fishing boats, but in reality, I think it is being used more to ...

Source: Fisheco