The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has proposed a budget of 8.2636 trillion won for the upcoming year, marking a 10.8% increase from this year's budget of 7.4583 trillion won. This is the highest growth rate since the ministry's re-establishment. The budget will focus on developing marine capital, restructuring the fishing industry, responding to the Arctic route, and the digital transformation of the marine industry.
According to the ministry, the total expenditure budget is set at 8.014 trillion won, an 8.9% increase from this year. Additionally, 249.6 billion won has been allocated for ministry projects under policy funds, including future response funds.
In terms of allocation, 3.8795 trillion won is designated for fisheries and fishing villages, the largest increase among sectors. The shipping and port sector will receive 2.2005 trillion won, while logistics and other areas will be allocated 1.1629 trillion won. The marine environment will see 497.7 billion won, and research and development (R&D) will receive 918.3 billion won.
The ministry plans to shift its fisheries management to focus on total allowable catch (TAC) starting next year, alongside efforts to reduce and modernize fishing vessels. This aims to transform the fisheries management system.
A budget of 506.2 billion won has been allocated for transitioning the management system of coastal fisheries, a 147.4% increase from this year's 204.6 billion won. The new system will verify catch amounts at landing stages and inspect landing ports, while also establishing an operational fisheries information management center and providing policy funding. The budget for resource assessment and management system development for TAC calculation will increase significantly from 900 million won to 6.7 billion won.
Funding will also support the restructuring of fishing vessels. The budget for reducing coastal fishing vessels will expand from 203.7 billion won to 348.8 billion won, and a new fund of 45.2 billion won has been allocated for modernizing coastal fishing vessels. The ministry plans to focus on reducing coastal fishing vessels over the next five years while promoting the modernization and enlargement of the remaining vessels.
Developing marine capital is another key focus of next year's budget. The ministry aims to cultivate the southern region centered around Busan into a super-regional economic zone focused on marine industries, allocating 622.8 billion won for related projects, a 13.3% increase from this year.
To support the construction of eco-friendly ships by shipping companies relocating to the region, 12.1 billion won has been newly allocated. The budget will also support the training of advanced marine industry talent and the establishment of technology verification infrastructure. Regarding the Arctic route, preparations for trial operations, data accumulation, and international cooperation will be pursued, with a related budget of 98.3 billion won, a 24.1% increase from this year.
Investments in port automation and digitalization will also be expanded. A new investment of 7.4 billion won will be made for a demonstration project applying physical AI to port loading and transportation equipment, while the budget for developing smart port operation technology will increase from 9.4 billion won to 18 billion won. Additionally, 15.7 billion won has been allocated for developing fully autonomous ship technology, an increase of 9.4 billion won from this year. A project to support the introduction of autonomous navigation systems on 40 national vessels will begin in 2027.
Furthermore, funding related to the distribution of fisheries has been allocated. The budget for smart aquaculture will increase from 15.2 billion won to 32.6 billion won, and 6 billion won has been newly allocated for mechanizing the labor-intensive aquaculture sector. A total of 102 billion won will be invested in smartening and supporting the operation of seafood processing facilities. Support for exports will also be expanded, including the establishment of K-GIM leading zones to boost seaweed exports and efforts to explore overseas markets for seafood.
In support of fishing villages, 9.6 billion won has been newly allocated for the public operation of coastal passenger ferries, which will be directly operated by the government on 11 routes next year. The ministry will also promote projects to improve housing and welfare infrastructure in fishing villages and support youth internships for settlement.
In the marine environment sector, 5.7 billion won will be newly invested in establishing a system to manage illegal occupation and use of public waters. The budget for collecting marine debris in vulnerable coastal areas will increase from 10.2 billion won to 17.5 billion won, and marine debris collection robots will be introduced. Funding for the marine bio industry will also expand from 2.9 billion won to 21.1 billion won.
Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo stated, "Next year's budget aims to transform the growth paradigm in the marine and fisheries sector, focusing on the development of marine capital and the innovation of the fishing industry, ensuring that the public can feel the government's achievements. We will do our best to prepare for the National Assembly's budget review to support the great transformation and leap of our economy."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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