Fishers’ Safety and Health Management Policy to be Integrated into MOF Starting January 3

- Establishing a disaster prevention system for fishers by reflecting the characteristics of the fishing industry

- Consulting and inspection tailored to the industry and fishing vessel to reduce fishing accident rates

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced that the amendment of the Act on Fishing Vessel Safety Operations and Fishers’ Safety and Health Promotion for the improvement of the safety and health environment for fishers will go into effect on Friday, January 3, 2025. Accordingly, policies on safety, health, and disaster prevention for all fishers will be centralized under MOF.

 This law was amended to resolve difficulties in on-site enforcement due to the dual management system for fishers’ safety and health and to strengthen the safety of fishers by establishing safety and health standards that reflect the characteristics of the fishing industry.

 To enforce the law, MOF has established safety and health standards for fishing vessels and appointed safety supervisors to inspect compliance with the obligations stipulated in the law. The ministry plans to invest approximately KRW 2.1 billion to support consulting and inspections for each industry and fishing vessel type in cooperation with related organizations such as the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives starting 2025.

 Moreover, as the law goes into effect, fishing vessel owners must fulfill the obligations stipulated in the law, such as designating fishing vessel managers, conducting risk assessments, and posting safety and health signs.

 “The implemented safety and health management system for fishermen this time is a disaster prevention system for fishers that reflects the characteristics of fishing vessels. It will serve as an opportunity to improve safety in fishing sites and change the way we protect the rights and interests of fishers by clarifying the direct management entity and legal standards for disaster prevention for them,” Minister Kang Do-hyung said.