In order to understand basic data for improving the fishing system and fishing vessel structure in coastal improved stow net fishery, a questionnaire survey and on-site hearing were conducted from May 10 to June 11, 2019 to analyze opinions on the improvement of operation status and fishing vessel structure. The questionnaire survey consisted of ten questions on the operation status of coastal improved stow net fishery and six questions on the improvement of fishing vessel structure, and the results of each question were analyzed by the region, the captain’s age, the captain’s career and the age of fishing vessel. As a result of analyzing opinions on the operation status of the coastal improved stow net fishery, it was found that the average time required for casting net was 32.8 to 33.0 minutes and that the average time required for hauling net was 41.0 to 42.2 minutes which took 10 to 12 minutes more than for casting net. The most important work requiring improvement during fishing operation (the first priority) were ‘hauling net operation,’ ‘readjustment and storage of fishing gear,’ and ‘fish handling’ and the hardest factor in fishing management were in the order of ‘reduction of catch,’ ‘labor shortage’ and ‘rising labor costs.’ The most institutional improvement that is most needed in coastal improved stow net fishery was an ‘using fine mesh nets.’ Most of the respondent to the questions on the experience in hiring foreign crews was ‘either hiring or willing to hire foreign crews,’ and the average number of foreign crews employed was found to be 2.3 to 2.4 persons. The most important reason for hiring (or considering employment) foreign crews was ‘high labor costs.’ The degree of communication with foreign crews during fishing operation were ‘moderate’ or ‘difficult to direct work.’ The most important problem in hiring foreign crews (the first priority) was an ‘illegal departure.’ As the survey results on the opinion of structural improvement of coastal improved stow net fishing vessel, the degree of satisfaction with fishing vessel structure related to fishing operation was found to be somewhat unsatisfactory, with an average of 3.3 points on a five-point scale. The inconvenient structure of fishing vessel in possession (the first priority), the space needed most for the construction of new fishing vessel (the first priority) and the space considered important for the construction of new fishing vessel (the first prioprity) was a ‘fish warehouse.’ The most preferred equipment for the construction of new fishing vessel were ‘engine operation monitoring’ and ‘navigation safety devices.’ The average size (tonnage class), the average horse power and the average total length of fishing vessel for proper profit and safety fishing operation was between 13.8 and 14.0 tonnes, 808.3 to 819.5 H.P. and 23.4 to 23.5 meters, respectively. The results of the operation status of coastal improved stow net fishery and the requirement for improving the fishing vessel structure are expected to be provided as basic data for reference when we build or improve the fishing vessel.

In order to collect basic data for the improvement of fishing systems in coastal improved stow net fishery, a questionnaire survey and on-site hearing were conducted from May 10 to June 11, 2019 on the basic items of coastal improved stow net fishery and safety accidents that occurred during fishing operation. The questionnaire for the survey on the actual conditions of coastal improved stow net fishery consisted of a survey on basic matters (six questions) and a questionnaire (six questions) on safety accidents occurring during fishing operation. The results of the survey on basic items were analyzed by region (Incheon, Seocheon, Gunsan and Mokpo), by the captain’s age (less than 50 years of age, 50 to 60 years and more than 60 years of age), by the captain’s career (less than 20 years, 20 to 30 years, 30 to 40 years and more than 40 years) and by the age of fishing vessel (less than 10 years, 10 to 20 years and more than 20 years). According to the survey on basic items of coastal improved stow net fishery such as the captain’s age, the captain’s career, the age of fishing vessel, the fishing nets in use, the crews on board and the operation days per voyage by region, the average captain’s age was 55.7 years, the average captain’s career was 20.5 years, the average age of fishing vessels was 9.0 years, the average numbers of nets used by fishing boats was 14.0 sets, the average numbers of crew on board a fishing boat was 4.4 persons and the average numbers of operation days per voyage was 4.9 days (p < 0.05). As a result of the survey on safety factors during fishing operations, such as experience of ship accidents, major causes of ship accidents experienced, causes of ship accidents (first priority), experience of human accidents, major causes of human accidents, and causes of human accidents (first priority), more than 96% of the respondents experienced ship accidents including collisions with other vessels or fishing gear during fishing operations. The most significant cause of the accident was the other’s fishing gear installed in the fishing grounds. The first possible causes of ship accidents during fishing operations were found to be other fishing gear installed in fishing grounds, steering or engine failure, and inability to avoid accidents during casting and hauling nets. The survey of the experience of human accidents, such as injuries or sea falls, showed that more than 90% of the respondents experienced human accidents during fishing operations. The most important cause of accidents experienced during fishing operations was stucked in a fishing gear during casting and hauling nets. The first important causes of accidents during fishing operations were movement of the fishing gear during casting and hauling nets, damage of the fishing gear such as rope cutting. The results are expected to be provided as a basic data to prevent safety accidents occurring during fishing operation and improve the fishing system in the coastal improved stow net fishery.

The coastal stow net (stow net hereafter) in Korea is one of the major fishing methods for yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis), ribbon fish (Trichiurus lepturus), and anchovy (Engraulis japonicus). In terms of energy efficiency, the stow net fishery is more competitive than towing fishing gears such as trawl gears. The fishing vessels in stow net fishery have consumed less fossil fuel and also have had less carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere. however, the stow net fishery is necessary to be regulated due to its increased output of the fleet. Therefore, it is required for fisheries authorities to manage the fishing capacity or fishing power for the assurance of fishery’s sustainability. For fisheries management authorities, it is necessary to quantify data related to fishing capacity and fishing power to deploy fishery policy in a sustainable way. In terms of data for decision-making, Data envelopment analysis (DEA) method was conducted to estimate fishing capacity. Fishing power index (FPI) was also applied to calculate relative fishing power to approach the problem in a quantitative way.