EU Likely to Classify Korea as IUU Fishing Country in June

Concerns are rising over the European Union’s possible designation of Korea as an illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing country in June this year. Countries assumed to be engaged in such illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities can export no marine products at all to the EU region. Korea might be subject to greater economic and diplomatic losses as well if the United States opts to follow the opinion of the EU in this matter.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the EU held an unofficial meeting with the Korean government in February this year over the IUU fishing allegations of Korean fishing boats and brought up the issue of Korean deep-sea fishing vessels catching tuna in the western Pacific Ocean.

The Korean government, in fact, took various measures to prevent the illegal activities of deep-sea vessels in order to avoid the designation. Nevertheless, the EU has brought out a new issue at this time. Industry experts mention that this is to brand Korea as an IUU fishing nation by any means and has at least something to do with political pressure from the fisheries industry of the EU.

The EU is planning to wrap up its final assessment in June. Korea was already classified as a potential IUU fishing nation in November last year. Once the provisional decision becomes final, Korea has to face a series of trade disadvantages, including the ban on the export of marine products to the EU and the prohibition of port entry by Korean fishing vessels. At present, Korea’s fisheries export to the EU amounts to US$100 million a year.

Under the circumstances, the Ministry sent Deputy Minister Sohn Jae-hak in a hurry to Brussels on May 7. He is scheduled to meet with high-ranking EU officials and ask for cooperation, explaining about the government’s efforts in this matter.

In the meantime, some insiders point out that the Korean government needs to take a hard-line stance if the EU insists on the designation despite such efforts because the stigma is not a problem limited to the fisheries industry. “This issue directly relates to the national pride of Korea, and the declaration by the EU will result in the United States following it before imposing trade pressure,” one of them explained.