Minister nominee Hwang Jong-woo of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on the 23rd, "With conflicts in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz creating an uncertain environment around the shipping and logistics industry, the need to reorganize existing energy supply chains is rising even further."
In opening remarks at the National Assembly's Agriculture. Food. Rural Affairs. Oceans. and Fisheries Committee confirmation hearing that day, nominee Hwang said, "The situation facing the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) is truly grave," and stated accordingly.
Hwang went on, "The fisheries industry, which has enriched people's tables, is under threat of existence due to climate change and the disappearance of fishing villages," adding, "We will overhaul the management system for fishery resources and drastically improve unnecessary fisheries regulations."
Hwang introduced five key tasks for a great leap forward in oceans and fisheries: ▲ readiness for the era of the Northern Sea Route ▲ strengthening the competitiveness of the fisheries and shipping industries ▲ boosting economic vitality in fishing village regions ▲ a safe marine and coastal environment ▲ strengthening maritime sovereignty.
He said, "We will foster the southeastern region as a marine capital area in preparation for the era of the Northern Sea Route," adding, "We will concentrate administration, the judiciary, and finance, and combine corporations, talent, and capital to strengthen the competitiveness of the oceans and fisheries industry and create a successful model for balanced national development."
In particular, he said, "Starting this year, we will accumulate data and experience necessary for commercial operations through pilot operations on the Northern Sea Route," adding, "In step with the activation of the Northern Sea Route, we will develop the new Jinhae port into the world's largest container port and a smart port."
As a plan to strengthen the competitiveness of the fisheries industry, he said, "We will reduce excessive fishing capacity to an appropriate level, focusing on coastal fishing vessels, and improve fishing productivity through the upsizing and modernization of vessels," adding, "We will integrate excellent digital capabilities into the aquaculture industry."
Regarding fishing village regional development, he said, "We will enable complex marine leisure tourism cities to be reborn as hubs of regional tourism that have everything to do, see, rest, and eat," adding, "We will prepare profit-sharing plans with relevant ministries so that the renewable energy industry can help coastal and fishing village economies." He added, "We will convert national subsidized routes to a public consignment system to further strengthen the transportation rights of coastal and fishing village residents."
Regarding strengthening maritime sovereignty, he emphasized, "We will shift the principle of responding to illegal fishing from expulsion to capture and significantly raise fines." He added, "We will mobilize satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles to establish a watertight monitoring system against illegal fishing," and "We will also strengthen maritime territory management activities for Dokdo, uninhabited islets serving as territorial sea baselines, and structures in the Yellow Sea."
Regarding the Middle East situation, he said, "We will monitor the situation in the Strait of Hormuz around the clock and respond meticulously while maintaining close contact with shipping companies and vessels so that the safety of our seafarers and ships can be secured as the top priority," adding, "We will also do our utmost to provide support for shipping companies, export and import corporations, and fishers."