Unregulated Fishing on the High Seas: International Discussions and Implications from the Perspectives of Distant Water Fishing Nations (Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan)

International Regulation of High Seas Fishing Begins in Earnest... Cooperation Among Distant Water Fishing Nations is Crucial The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) recently analyzed the impact of the BBNJ Agreement on distant water fishing through a trend analysis examining international discussions on unregulated high seas fishing from the perspectives of South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan. The analysis particularly compared policy changes among major distant water fishing nations and presented the technical, social changes, and necessity of international cooperation in managing unregulated fishing. South Korea became the 21st and first East Asian country to ratify the BBNJ Agreement by depositing its instrument of ratification with the UN in March 2025. The BBNJ Agreement is the third implementing agreement of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, aimed at protecting the environment and marine biodiversity in high seas areas that comprise approximately two-thirds of the ...