Gyeongsangnam-do Holds Self-Management Fisheries Unity Rally ... "Boosting Support for the Fisheries Industry's Strong Pillars"

Gyeongsangnam-do held the 12th Gyeongsangnam-do Self-Management Fisheries Unity Rally at the Goseong County Sports Complex on Nov. 6, pledging to innovate self-management fisheries.

The rally was held under the theme, “Protecting the Sea Ourselves, Opening a Prosperous Future Together.”

More than 3,000 people attended, including self-management fishery workers from across the province, their families, and fisheries industry representatives.

Key guests also attended, including Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-soo, Goseong County Governor Ha Hak-yeol, Gyeongsangnam-do Council Agriculture, Oceans and Fisheries Committee Chair Lee Gyeong-jae, Goseong County Council Chair Jeong Yeong-hwan, and Kim San, head of the Gyeongsangnam-do Federation of the Korea Self-Management Fisheries Association.

The 12th South Gyeongsang Province Self-Managed Fisheries Unity Festival is underway at the Goseong County Sports Complex. [Photo courtesy of South Gyeongsang Province]

“The fisheries industry has recently faced many difficulties due to climate change, declining fishery resources, and rising operating costs,” Governor Park said. “Despite these challenges, you have steadfastly protected our seas and continued self-management fisheries, making you a strong pillar of Gyeongsangnam-do’s fisheries industry.”

He added, “Gyeongsangnam-do will work to improve the welfare of fishery workers, build up fishery resources, improve living conditions in fishing communities, promote smart aquaculture, and prevent fishery-related disasters. In the near future, we will arrange a meeting with the heads of self-management fisheries associations in each city and county, provincial council members, and relevant public officials to hear directly from people in the field and discuss solutions.”

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wansu (center) poses for a commemorative photo with recipients of the governor's commendation at the 12th Gyeongsangnam-do Self-Managed Fisheries Unity Rally. [Photo courtesy of Gyeongsangnam-do]

The event included a pre-ceremony performance, an official ceremony, awards for those who contributed to the development of self-management fisheries and the protection of fishery resources, the reading of a resolution to innovate self-management fisheries, a vision proclamation, and activities to promote unity among fishery workers.

At the event, fishery workers pledged to foster unity, join forces to protect fishery resources, and promote the sustainable development of fishing communities.

In particular, by reading the “Resolution to Innovate Self-Management Fisheries,” they pledged to confront domestic and international challenges, including rapidly changing climate conditions and declining fishery resources, and to drive innovation themselves.

They also agreed to do their utmost to create prosperous and vibrant fishing communities as the driving force behind the development of fisheries and fishing villages.

They pledged to make self-management communities a source of hope for the fisheries industry and fishing communities, establish order in the fisheries sector and eradicate illegal fishing, and rigorously implement resource management, fishing ground management, maintenance of order, and business improvement to establish self-management fisheries.

They also resolved to protect Gyeongsangnam-do’s seas and fishery resources themselves.

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wansu meets with self-regulating fishery workers to offer encouragement and support. [Photo provided by Gyeongsangnam-do]

Introduced in 2002, “self-management fisheries” is a system in which fishery workers form communities and, under rules they set themselves, regulate catches and independently manage fishery resources and fishing grounds.

More than 65,000 people currently participate in 1,164 communities nationwide. In Gyeongsangnam-do, more than 9,500 fishery workers in 262 communities carry out a range of activities, including protecting spawning grounds, cleaning the fishing ground environment, regulating fishing gear and catches, and joint sales.

Gyeongsangnam-do plans to strengthen its support for the effective development of self-management fisheries by shifting to a support system centered on evaluations of community activities, enhancing fishery workers’ capabilities, and expanding field-focused communication.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.