SEOUL, KOREA - The European Union designated Korea as an illegal fishing nation. The European Commission announced on November 26 that it labeled Korea, as well as Ghana and Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles, as IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing countries in its preliminary ruling.

 

The commission said that it made warnings as these nations were negligent on their international obligations to supervise and control deep-sea fishing activities.

 

Once designated as a full IUU country, the nation is banned from exporting fishery goods to EU countries including the use of ports within the EU. Korea exported US$80 million worth of fishery goods last year.

 

To this, the Korean government responded strongly, showing displeasure about the designation. Lyu Jae-hyung, senior manager responsible for international issues with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "There is little negative impact on our economy from the designation. Still it's a disgrace for us to be branded as an illegal fishing country."

 

But the ministry official said it is unlikely that the EU would push ahead with a final ruling on Korea as an IUU country. That's because Korea is improving its supervision on illegal fishing activities, such as raising fines to illegal fishing boats. The official said, "Previously the fines were 5 million won. Upon receiving complaints from the EU, we tripled the fine amount. Now it is raising issues about lack of vessel traffic and positioning systems. By July next year, that will be addressed and there will be nothing left for the EU to complain about."