South Korea
A fish shop in Seoul, South Korea
South Korea faces challenges as fish imports grow - South Korea’s fishing industry faces numerous challenges over the next decade as the fisheries sector evolves to play a new role in the country’s fast developing economy.
Traditionally a major employer of labour and a core sector in the economy, the fishing industry is under pressure to reduce its marine capture capacity to ensure sustainable production and will rely increasingly on aquaculture for future growth in output.
Fisheries production in South Korea has fluctuated most years since the late 1990s though the overall trend has been upward due to strong growth in marine aquaculture output and better fish stock management. Coastal and offshore fisheries production remains stable while aquaculture production has doubled in size during the past decade.
South Korea’s fishery production totalled 3,032,000 metric tons (mt) including seaweed in 2006 according to the Korea Fisheries Association (KFA), registering an 11% increase compared with 2,714,000mt the previous year. Total fisheries production has risen 20% compare