Fishing boat branded ‘illegal’ as Greenpeace demands Korea stop unlawful catch.

Press release - October 8, 2014
Busan, South Korea, 7 Oct 2014 – Protesting the arrival of the Korean flagged fishing vessel Insung 3 in Busan today, Greenpeace accused the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of failing to regulate the illegal activity of its distant water fleet. Greenpeace activists painted “illegal” on the side of the Antarctic fishing vessel to highlight its involvement in illegal fishing.

Reportedly carrying 60 tonnes of illegal catch, Insung 3 returned to her home port in Busan to be investigated by the Minstry of Fisheries, following calls from Greenpeace after demanding the blacklisting of the illegal vessel Insung 7.

The Korean Longliner Insung No3 arrives in Busan, South Korea. According to Greenpeace the fishing vessel was engaged in illegal fishing activities and was reportedly carrying 60 tonnes of illegal catch onboard. Greenpeace is calling on South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) to investigate the illegal vessel and close regulation loopholes for its distant water fishing fleet. 10/07/2014 © Paul Hilton / Greenpeace

Both Insung 3 and 7, owned by the Korean fishing company Insung, were documented fishing illegally in Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in 2013. The company’s fleet has had a history of illegal fishing in the Southern ocean since 2009, and triggered international debate on the failure of Korea to control their own fleet. The US identified Korea as an illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) nation in Jan 2013, followed by an EU pre-identification as IUU in Nov 2013.

Insung not only ignores international law, but when the Korean MOF recently refused to issue a catch certificate for illegal catch, Insung refused to go to port for inspection and instead instructed one of its IUU vessels to stay at sea for 9 months, risking crew’s lives. Inspite of the company’s record, the Insung 3 reportedly faces punishment of a mere 30 day fishing ban and a pathetic $US 1,500 fine.

"The naughty kid is back home and the world is watching to see if Korea has the determination or capability to control its own fleet. These IUU cases expose loopholes in existing legislation where the government does not have the legal ground to take further action.” said Jeonghee Han, Oceans Campaigner of Greenpeace East Asia. “Insung has repeatedly damaged Korea’s international reputation with IUU fishing, and are likely to be allowed to continue their business illegally exploiting the oceans. Insung IUU cases highlight alarming problems with existing legislation”

Greenpeace exposed 34 cases of IUU, non-compliance and human rights abuse history by Korean vessels last year, and cases continue to emerge from both Africa and the Southern Ocean. Greenpeace is alarmed by continued IUU activities by Korean vessels. The Insung 7 and 3 show a flagrant disregard for international fisheries agreements. The only way to stop illegal fishing is through strengthened policy and implementation.

With the Korean government currently revising their Distant Water Fishery Development Act, Greenpeace urges the MOF to release the revision bill to civil society, for input by other stakeholders. Instead, the revision process has been delayed. “As an increasing number of illegal cases are discovered, a longer delay will result in a bigger loss to the Korean economy and damage to its reputation. If Korean IUU fishing is not urgently addressed, the EU and US may be pushed to give Korea a red card by end of the year.” said Jeonghee Han. A red card would mean Korea can neither sell fish to those countries, nor fish in their waters.


The Korean Longliner Insung No3 arrives in Busan, South Korea. The fishing vessel was engaged in illegal fishing and was reportedly carrying 60 tonnes of illegal catch onboard. Greenpeace is calling on South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) to investigate the illegal vessel and close regulation loopholes for its distant water fishing fleet. © Paul Hilton / Greenpeace

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