Seafood linked to human rights abuses, illegal fishing and the destruction of marine ecosystems could be ending up in the Korean market, according to a new investigation from the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).
In its report, “The Broken Barrier”, the international NGO has determined 145 high-risk seafood consignments have been imported undetected to Korea over the last two years. It is therefore calling for the Korean government to strengthen seafood traceability and transparency to bring the in line with other nations and prevent the import of illegally-caught, inhumane and environmentally-damaging seafood.
EJF also recommends that information about all seafood be made accessible to the public, stating that by requiring the origin, producers and distributors of seafood products to be visible, Korean authorities could reassure consumers that they are purchasing ethical and sustainable seafood, free from safety concerns or connections to illegal, unethical and unsustainable fishing.
The foundation said Korean consumers are increasingly interested in the sustainability and safety of the seafood that they consume, and so it is the Korean government’s responsibility to improve transparency and traceability in its seafood supply chain.
It is calling for the Korean government to upgrade mandatory information requirements and introduce a one-stop online platform for consumers, and is also encouraging it to enshrine the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency into Korean fisheries legislation, and to adopt other international standards such as ILO C188, which protects fishers’ rights.
“In 2017, the Korean government responded to international and domestic pressure around seafood legality by introducing limited traceability for seafood imports. However, further action is needed. Now is the time to do the right thing for consumers, for fishers around the world and for our ocean,” EJF CEO and Co-Founder Steve Trent said.
“Korea can be a regional leader in sustainable fisheries as a major flag state, port state and market state, but at present not enough is being done to achieve this. Improving traceability, keeping vessels linked to illegal fishing out of Korean ports and systematically enhancing transparency are essential steps which can be taken now to eliminate illegal, unsustainable and unethical fishing. The barrier is broken, but the Korean government can mend it now.”
Korea is the world’s fifth-largest importer of seafood products, bring in 6.4 million tonnes of seafood from a total of 132 countries in 2021, worth US$62 billion. Its top five trading partners are China, Russia, Vietnam, Norway and the United States, which collectively account for 67% of Korea’s total seafood imports.
