• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.124-141
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• 2004

This study focuses on the off-shore trawl fishery, specifically on its restructuring and new regulations governing its operation since the 1990s. This fishery has an important role in terms of fishing capacity and production amount and is dependent on close diplomatic relations with adjacent fishing countries. The off-shore trawl fishery has been shrinking since the 1990s. In addition to a decrease in stock and an increase in imports, there are vessel buyback programs and a decrease in fishing grounds related to a tri-lateral agreement among Korea, China and Japan which have sped up the shrinking of the fishery. In this processing, costs exceed the increase of revenue. Excess investments in fishing gear and salary for crews have lowered profits in this fishery. Considering the above, the off-shore otter trawl fishery should stop increases in production and restructure the fishery by coordinating fishing gear restrictions and fishing areas, and down-sizing management capacity.