The government is pushing for the introduction of operation qualifications for small fishing vessels under 5 tons that could operate without a license. This is due to the continuous occurrence of fishing vessel accidents, which are seen as a major cause, among those vessels operating without specific qualifications. Japan requires all ships over 0.2 tons to have qualifications to operate.
Fishing vessel accidents occurring domestically amount to around 2,000 every year. Among the vessels that have experienced such accidents (10,601 vessels), those under 5 tons account for 42%, the highest proportion.
On the 5th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the 'Analysis of Fishing Vessel Accident Causes and Measures for Human Damage' together with related organizations such as the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, and the Korea Meteorological Administration.
This measure is aimed at addressing the fishing vessel accidents that occur around 2,000 times a year. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 9,602 fishing vessel accidents occurred, resulting in 305 deaths and 123 missing persons. There are 1,593 injured individuals. In response, the government formed a joint public-private 'Fishing Vessel Accident Disaster Cause Investigation Team' in July of last year to prepare measures.
First of all, the government has decided to introduce a qualification system for the operation of fishing vessels under 5 tons, which had been in a qualification gap. Unlike vessels over 5 tons, which require certain operation qualifications such as ship operator licenses and small vessel operation licenses, vessels under 5 tons can operate without additional qualifications if they only obtain a fishing permit after purchasing the vessel.
Kuk Seung-ki, head of the disaster cause investigation team and a professor at Korea Maritime and Ocean University, noted, "Devices that move with electric motors on roads require licenses, but such vessels under 5 tons could be used without a license."
Fishing vessels under 5 tons, measuring about 15 to 16 meters in length, are vulnerable to accidents compared to larger vessels. Among the annual fishing vessel accidents, those under 5 tons account for about 40%, the largest proportion. Among safety incidents, the high rate of deaths or disappearances during solo operations and overboard falls is also influenced by this.
The fact that fishing vessels under 5 tons could operate without a license is greatly influenced by the fact that fishermen had been operating small fishing vessels even before the related laws such as the Fishermen's Employee Act were enacted. Furthermore, until now, their activity radius was not large, and if an additional operation qualification were to be imposed, it could affect the livelihoods of fishermen. However, with the increase in the number of vessels and the rising traffic at sea, there have been calls for fishing vessels under 5 tons to also meet qualification requirements, leading the government to promote the related system.
In addition, the government will also push for managing the entry and exit of fishing vessels, enhancing initial response capabilities, and strengthening safety management for crew members.
Lee Han-gyeong, head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, said, "With the mindset of being responsible for the safety of fishermen, I will thoroughly manage the government's measures to ensure they are implemented without disruption."