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In February 2015, the NIE (National Institute for Ecology) was designated as the natural environmental risk assessment agency. The NIE also carries out consultation review of LMO food, feed and processing to assess the impact on the natural ecosystem, and monitors the contamination of imported LMOs in Korea.

Fisheries are regulated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), created in 2013, which is responsible for providing a fully integrated approach to all marine issues. The Korea Fisheries Resources Agency (FIRA) was established in 2011, targeting at recovering and managing fisheries resources in a more systematic manner. It aims to create productive and healthy oceans by restoring and enhancing fisheries resources and the marine ecosystem. Over the 2009-15 period, 9,144 hectares of marine forest were created and the target of the FIRA is to create 54,000 hectares of marine forest by 2030.

The FIRA monitors the total allowable catch (TAC) data, which is applied to offshore and coastal fishing. It established 392,424 MT as the TAC for 2015 (down by 5.5% from the previous year), covering 11 species: mackerels, Jack mackerels, red snow crabs, snow crabs, purplish Washington clams, pen shells, horned turban, blue crabs, squid, sailfin sandfish, and mottled skate. 60% of the TAC quotas are allocated to fishermen in proportion to the catch in the three most recent years and the gross tonnage of fishing vessels, and the rest on a "first come, first served" basis. Quotas are transferable but not tradable.

The number of fishing vessels has been decreasing, reflecting the reduction in fishery resources. The Government has continued to downsize the Korean fishing fleet. In 2014, the number of fishers, the number of fish farmers, the total number of fishing vessels, and the total tonnage of the fleet decreased by 2.8%, 7.3%, 4%, and 3.6%, respectively, from the previous year.

Efforts have been made to restore fishery resources by regulating bycatch and strengthening TAC [total allowable catch]. Bycatch, including instalment of bycatch reduction devices, is governed by Article 41 of the Fisheries Act, and Article 27 (2) of the Enforcement Ordinance of the same Act. Bycatch of TAC-covered species by vessels subject to the TAC system is deducted from allocated quotas. The TAC-covered species are required to be landed at designated landing points, monitored by the FIRA, and relevant vessels must make TAC catch reports.

(...) The fishery traceability scheme has expanded to include more than 30 major species (from 18 species in 2011).

(...) Quotas for foreign vessels are renewed annually, in consideration of fish stock developments.

Korea has been participating in the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules, including negotiations on disciplines in fisheries subsidies.

Table 4.9 Fisheries subsidies, 2011-14
(₩ million)
Item Type 2011 2012 2013 2014
Support for vessel decommissioning

To maintain fleet size at a sustainable level for coastal and offshore fishery resources.
100% grant to coastal fishermen and 80% grant to offshore fishermen.
To be continued provisionally until 2018. Lump sum transfer 37,214 29,795 24,886 20,529
Loan n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Benefit of loana n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
(...)

To fight against IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing, the Government amended the Distant Water Fisheries Development Act in 2014 and 2015, which introduced more severe sanctions on IUU fishing:
a. an imprisonment of up to five years;
b. a criminal fine of up to five times the wholesale value of illegal catches, or a criminal fine of at least ₩500 million, whichever is higher;
c. mandatory installation of a vessel monitoring system (VMS) on all distant fishing vessels and carrier vessels;
d. pre-authorization requirements for transhipment; and
e. monitoring of all distant water fishing vessels.