Korea’s fisheries industry has long played a crucial role in national food security and economic development. However, fisheries resource depletion, marine environmental degradation, and climate change have heightened the need for effective fisheries resource management. This study examines overlapping and conflicting regulations within Korea’s fisheries resource management system and proposes science-based solutions to improve regulatory effectiveness. Through a comprehensive review of fisheries-related laws and policies, combined with case studies on minimum catch sizes, closed seasons, and total allowable catch (TAC), this study identifies multiple instances of regulatory overlap. These include inconsistencies in minimum catch size regulations across different laws and conflicts between TAC and other regulatory measures. Such overlaps reduce administrative efficiency, increase compliance costs for fishers, and weaken the effectiveness of fisheries resource management. To address these challenges, this study aims to analyze the current status of overlapping regulations in Korea’s fisheries resource management system and present scientific and rational solutions. Ultimately, the research seeks to enhance administrative efficiency, alleviate burdens on fishers and contribute to the establishment of a sustainable fisheries resource management framework.

Largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) is a commercially important warm-water species widely distributed in Korean coastal and offshore waters as well as adjacent waters. Recently, recreational fishing catches of this species have increased substantially, raising concerns about their contribution to total fishing pressure and the potential bias in stock assessment based solely on commercial catches. In this study, recreational fishing catches of largehead hairtail from 1970 to 2023 were reconstructed and combined with commercial catches to estimate total removals. Stock assessments were conducted using the CMSY (Catch-MSY) method under two scenarios: one using only commercial catches and the other incorporating recreational catches into the total catches. The results indicate that the current stock status of largehead hairtail is not overfished (B/BMSY > 1) and not subject to overfishing (F/FMSY < 1). However, the probability of overfishing increased compared to the scenario using only commercial catches when including recreational catches. This suggests that stock status may be overestimated if recreational removals are ignored. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating recreational fishing into stock assessments and indicate that systematic management of recreational fisheries should be implemented alongside commercial fisheries to ensure the sustainable use of the stock.

Catch per unit effort (CPUE) is widely utilized as an index of stock abundance in fisheries assessments, but its interpretation is often complicated by temporal and spatial variation in fishing activity. For this reason, CPUE standardization is essentially needed to produce indices that better reflect the actual stock status. In Korea, however, the limited availability of detailed operational data has posed challenges for effective CPUE standardization. In this study, CPUE data for sailfin sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus) caught by the East Sea mid-sized Danish seine fishery were standardized using records from the Korean Fishery Radio Station (FRS) from 2004 to 2024. The dataset mainly consists of fishing dates, locations (30’ × 30’ latitude-longitude grids), and catch weights. A generalized linear model (GLM) was applied, incorporating year, quarter, area, and their interactions as explanatory variables. Among these, the year was identified as the most influential factor, followed by quarter and area. The standardized CPUE showed a more stable trend than the nominal CPUE, which showed an increase from 2004 to 2017 and a sharp decline thereafter. This suggests that the standardized CPUE more accurately reflects the underlying dynamics of sailfin sandfish stock abundance. Despite the absence of detailed logbook records, the FRS records effectively captured the spatial distribution of fishing activity and operational patterns, demonstrating their potential as alternative data sources for CPUE standardization. Nevertheless, limitations remain due to the self-reported nature of the data, which may lead to low coverage and potential reliability issues. Improvements in both the quantity and quality of data collection and reporting are necessary to enhance the utility of such data in stock assessments. This study highlights the potential and challenges of using FRS data for CPUE standardization and provides practical guidance for its application in fisheries management.

The purpose of this study is to assess the current status of technology development and evaluate future potential by analyzing patent trends in Korea’s fisheries sector. To this end, we examined patent application and registration trends over a 20-year period (2002-2021) within the fisheries domain across the Intellectual Property 5 (IP5) countries (Korea, China, Japan, the United States, and Europe), using data from the Korean Multifunctional Patent Search System (KOMPASS). Based on this analysis, we discussed the strategic direction and marketability of technology development in Korea. Patent applications and registrations in Korea’s fisheries sector have steadily increased over the past 20 years, placing Korea the second among the IP5 countries. Analysis of priority examination data indicates a continuous rise in new technology development, particularly in the aquaculture and seafood. However, multiple-International Patent Classification (IPC) applications are heavily concentrated among a small number of institutions, highlighting the need to broaden the applicant base to encourage more widespread technological innovation. Korea’s fisheries technology sector is currently in the growth stage with sustained development expected in aquaculture and seafood-related technologies. Although Korea entered the IP5 landscape relatively late, it possesses strong competitiveness and considerable development potential positioning it to assume a leading role in the global technology market.

Reconstructing reliable length composition data is critical for applying length-based age-structured stock assessment models, particularly in data-limited situations. This study suggests an approach to reconstruct the length composition of small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) caught by the offshore gillnet fishery in Korean waters where existing length data often lack temporal coverage and representativeness. To address this issue, measured data by size-specific boxes were integrated with auction-based landing data. Using the number of individuals per size-specific box as a proxy, a nonparametric bootstrap resampling method was applied to generate probabilistic length composition estimates. Normality tests and ANOVA revealed non-normal and non-linear patterns in data, supporting the use of nonparametric methods and the classification of size-specific boxes. Approximately 130,000 boxes (30 million individuals), including those with partial missing data, were analyzed using an automated R-based workflow, and a hot-deck method was used for imputation. The reconstructed length compositions showed stable distributions with low standard errors, indicating improved representativeness compared to the raw data. This approach provides a practical framework for generating reliable length composition inputs to enable the application of length-based age-structured stock assessment models, particularly when age composition data are limited or poor.

The pioneering effort of Korea's distant water fisheries can be traced back to 1957 when Jinam-ho, affiliated with Jedong Industry Co., embarked on a tuna longline sea trial in the Indian Ocean. The success of this sea trial holds significant importance as it laid the groundwork for Korea to venture into the Pacific tuna fishing grounds, which were predominantly dominated by the United States and Japan at that time. The Korean distant water fisheries experienced remarkable growth in a short period, from the inception period in the 1950s, the pioneering period in the 1960s, the growth period in the 1970s, and the development period in the 1980s. However, a series of changes in the international situation, including the global oil crises of 1973 and 1978, the declaration of 200-nautical-mile zones by coastal states in 1977, and the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) in 1995, made a significant transformation in the Korean distant water fisheries inevitable. In particular, UNFSA grants the authority to conserve and manage fisheries resources to the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), and stipulates that coastal states and fishing nations cooperate with each other through RFMOs. In order to reclaim the once vast fishing grounds and secure maritime territories, it is imperative to have both the keen attention of the fishing industries and the strategic support of the government. In addition, to secure competitiveness in the international community, we should faithfully fulfill the role as a responsible fishing nation and contribute to RFMOs by strengthening scientific activities.

Recently, ESG(Environmental, Social, Governance) has been recognized as an important factor for the sustainable growth of companies. However, only 14.5% of food manufacturing companies have adopted ESG management. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) face difficulties in implementing ESG management due to a lack of specialized personnel and resource constraints. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of ESG ratings on the management performance of 40 food manufacturing companies listed on the Korea Exchange(KRX) that have been evaluated for ESG. The one-way ANOVA was used and performed on data for 40 food manufacturing companies published by the Korea Institute of Corporate Governance and Sustainability(KCGS) in 2023. The results of the analysis showed statistically significant differences in sales (F=12.936, p<0.001) and foreign ownership (F=7.74, p<0.01) based on ESG ratings. Furthermore, Scheffe's post-hoc analysis indicated that the higher the ESG rating and individual scores, the better the overall management performance. Therefore, it is concluded that food manufacturing companies should continuously invest in and focus on ESG management to secure a competitive advantage in the market and achieve sustainable growth.

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between international oil price as a fuel cost in overseas fisheries and skipjack tuna price as a part of main products in overseas fisheries using monthly time series data from 2008 to 2017. The study also tried to analyze the change of fishing profits by fuel cost. For a time series analysis, this study conducted both the unit-root test for stability of data and the Johansen cointegration test for long-term equilibrium relations among variables. In addition, it used not only the Granger causality test to examine interactions among variables, but also the Vector Auto Regressive (VAR) model to estimate statistical impacts among variables used in the model. Results of this study are as follows. First, each data on variables was not found to be stationary from the ADF unit-root test and long-term equilibrium relations among variables were not found from a Johansen cointegration test. Second, the Granger causality test showed that the international oil prices would directly cause changes in skipjack tuna prices. Third, the VAR model indicated that the posterior t-2 period change of international oil price would have an statistically significant effect on changes of skipjack tuna prices. Finally, fishing profits from skipjack would be decreased by 0.06% if the fuel cost increases by 1%.

The WCPFC CMMs related to tropical tunas have been strongly restricting fishing capacity and operating activities of main fisheries, especially purse seine fishery. In terms of changes in fishing trend by implementing relevant measures of FAD set, the number of FAD set by Korean purse seine fleet showed a decreasing pattern with the lowest level of FAD set proportion among major distant water fishing nations. With regards to the FAD closure, there was no significant change in fishing effort but a drop in catch, especially bigeye tuna during the period of FAD closure. Moreover, it showed closely similar trends between the number of FAD set and bigeye tuna catch. In terms of measures related to the high sea area including a ban on fishing on the HSP and limitation of fishing days on the high sea by flag state, proportions of catch and effort on the high sea had sharply declined after implementing those measures. As relevant measures are expected to be strengthened, it should pay attention to change of coastal nations policies and focus on improving fishing efficiency of unassociated school set with multi-pronged efforts.

Fishing characteristics of Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Pacific Ocean were investigated using logbook data compiled from captain onboard and the statistical data from 1980 to 2014. Changes in fishing ground and correlation between marine environmental factors and fishing patterns were investigated using Oceanographic index. The proportion of unassociated set was higher than that of associated set. The catch proportion of yellowfin was higher in the unassociated set, while that of skipjack and bigeye was higher in the associated set. Due to vessels, fishing gears and Korean captains’ high-level of skills in fishing technology optimized for the unassociated set and preference of large fishes, especially large yellowfin tuna, it showed unique fishing characteristics focusing on the unassociated set. As for fishing distributions of Korean tuna purse seine fishery and impacts of oceanographic conditions on the fishery, the main fishing ground was concentrated on the area of 5°N~10°S, 140°E~180° through the decades. When stronger El-nino occurred, the range of fishing ground tended to expand and main fishing ground moved to the eastern part of western and central Pacific Ocean. During this season, yellowfin tuna had high CPUE and catch proportion of yellowfin tuna in the eastern part also increased. As for the proportion of fishing effort by set type, proportion of log associated set was high during El-nino season while that of FAD associated set was high during La-nina season.

This study was performed to estimate biomass and provide management guidance through population ecological characteristics, including growth parameters, instantaneous coefficients of natural and fishing mortalities, and age at first capture of the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus and olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus of Korea. For describing growth of this species, a von Bertalanffy growth model was adopted. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated from a non-linear regression for starry flounder were L∞=48.25 cm, K=0.16/yr, and t0=-1.48, respectively and those for olive flounder were L∞=86.46 cm, K=0.26/yr, and t0=-0.29, respectively. Biomass of Platichthys stellatus was estimated by direct biomass estimation method was 2.6 M/T, that was estimated by indirect method was 13.4 M/Tt. Those of Paralichthys olivaceus were estimated as 10.1 M/T, 19.3 M/T, respectively. An yield per recruit analysis showed that the current yield per recruit on Platichthys stellatus was about 48.2 g with F=0.646/yr and the age at first capture (tc) 1.35yr, that on Paralichthys olivaceus was about 167.6 g with F=1.121/yr and the age at first capture (tc) 1yr.

Korean distant water tuna longline fishery commenced in 1966 in the Atlantic Ocean. Since then, it has become one of the most important fisheries of Korea. By early of 1970s, total amount of tuna caught in the Atlantic Ocean was the highest among other Korean distant water tuna fisheries, but has become minor since 1990s. The annual catch of tuna and tuna-like species by Korean tuna longline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean was about 1,900 mt in 2013. Bigeye tuna was the predominant species in species composition followed by yellowfin tuna, Albacore tuna, Blue shark and Swordfish. Korean distant water tuna longline fishery have mainly operated in the tropical area of the Atlantic Ocean (20°N~20°S, 20°E~60°W), fishing ground was almost similar as in the previous years. The length frequency of major species (Bigeye tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Albacore tuna, Blue shark and Swordfish) were estimated. As the result of length (size) frequency data on main species caught by lonline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean, main length intervals of bigeye tuna caught in 2011, 2012 and 2013 were 120~125 cm, 160~165 cm and 130~135 cm, respectively. For yellowfin tuna, those were 125~130 cm, 150~155 cm, 145~150 cm and for albacore, 109 cm, 102 cm, 109 cm and 106 cm respectively. For swordfish caught in 2011, 2012 and 2013, main length intervals were 130~135 cm, 125~135 cm and 125~130 cm, respectively, and for blue shark, 195~200 cm in 2011 and 185~190 cm in 2012, 2013.