Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Sets Total Allowable Catch at 623,079 Tons for 2026-2027, Adds New Species

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic fishing industry by increasing the number of species under the total allowable catch (TAC) and streamlining unnecessary regulations. This initiative aims to improve fishing capacity to respond to fluctuations in catch volume and boost the income of fishing households.

On June 30, the ministry announced that it will implement the TAC plan for the 2026-2027 fishing season starting July 1. The TAC system sets a limit on the amount of fish that can be caught annually, currently operating in three phases.

The new plan adds bream to the existing 18 species and 21 fishing categories, expanding the TAC to 19 species and 23 categories. The total allowable catch has been set at 623,079 tons.

The newly added species, bream, will apply to large trawl fisheries in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions. Additionally, the mid-sized bottom trawl fishery and the political net fishery have been included as new categories. The mid-sized bottom trawl fishery targets squid. Due to the nature of the political net fishery, which involves setting nets in designated areas, selective fishing by species is challenging; thus, a total catch TAC will be applied.

Existing TAC species will see an increase in categories and an elevation in application phases. Previously, six categories participated in the squid TAC, but the new plan adds large bottom trawl fisheries. The categories for the mackerel TAC, which had four participants, will also include large trawlers.

The crab and red crab, which were previously allocated total amounts only in phase one, will be elevated to phase two, while anchovies, squids, and mackerels will move from phase two to phase three.

Furthermore, the ministry will integrate mackerel and saury, which are currently managed separately, into a single mackerel category and expand the management of horse mackerel and conch to multi-year targets.

Finally, under the newly established "Sustainable Development of Coastal Fisheries Act," the ministry plans to expand the TAC to encompass all coastal fisheries starting in July 2030, based on three years of catch performance data from next year.

Choi Hyun-ho, head of the Fisheries Policy Office at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, "With the enactment of the 'Sustainable Development of Coastal Fisheries Act,' we will abolish and adjust existing regulations based on accurate coastal fisheries data. We will continue to expand the TAC and ensure the stable establishment of these systems in the field."

* This article has been translated by AI.