S. Korea, China agree to reach fishing quota balance by 2013

SEOUL, Nov. 10 — South Korea and China have agreed to gradually cut back on fishing in each other's exclusive economic zones (EEZ) so a balance in the total haul can be reached by 2013, Seoul said Tuesday.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the two sides have reached an accord to limit fishing to a total allowable catch of 60,000 tons each in the target year.

The neighboring countries also pledged to place a ceiling on the number of fishing boats allowed to operate in the other country's EEZ to 1,600 so as to prevent over-fishing of maritime resources.

"Under the new plan, China must withdraw 50 boats every year from 2010 through 2013 and cut the size of its haul by 2,500t annually, while South Korea must reduce its catch by 2,000t per year," a ministry official said.

At present China operates 1,800 boats that catch 70,000t of fish annually in South Korean-controlled waters. There are 1,600 South Korean boats in Chinese waters catching 68,000t of fish.

The official also said that Seoul and Beijing concurred there is a need to deal with illegal fishing in South Korean waters.

"Starting next year there will be tighter monitoring of boats that transport catches, with both sides to come up with new ways to stamp out unlawful activities," he said. (PNA/Yonhap)

ALM/ebp

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