Korea, a country with a substantial appetite for seafood, is currently facing a serious problem. Reports suggest that high-risk seafood products are making their way into the country due to ineffective import controls. This is an alarming trend that poses a significant threat to public health and the environment. Despite the existence of regulations and standards, stakeholders in the seafood supply chain are not complying, leading to the importation of products that are unsafe and unsustainable. In this article, we will explore the extent of this problem and the implications it has for Korea’s seafood industry and its consumers.
Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has carried out an investigation to shed light on the risks associated with seafood entering the Korean market. The investigation, named “The Broken Barrier,” suggests that certain seafood items linked with human rights abuses, illegal fishing, and the destruction of marine ecosystems have been entering Korea undetected. The EJF report highlights that 145 high-risk seafood consignments have been imported into Korea over the past two years without any detection.
The Korean government has been urged to improve transparency and traceability in its seafood supply chain to create parity with other countries and to prevent the import of seafood caught illegally or using inhumane and environmentally damaging fishing methods. EJF has also called for complete accessibility to all seafood information to the public. By disclosing the origin, producers, and distributors of seafood products, Korean authorities can reassure customers that they are purchasing ethical and sustainable seafood, ensuring safety, and confirming that the seafood is not linked to illegal, unethical, or unsustainable fishing practices.
Safeguarding seafood products requires intelligence on various factors such as: what the product is, who captured it, when it was caught, where it was fished, and how the fishing was conducted. EJF’s investigation identified that this information could be used to counter seafood fraud and empower customers to make eco-friendly and people-friendly product choices.
Many Korean consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality and origin of seafood. Consequently, the onus is on the Korean government to enhance transparency and traceability in its seafood supply chain, ensuring that consumers are not indirectly partaking in environmentally disastrous fishing or promoting human rights abuses. EJF has called upon the Korean government to upgrade mandatory information requirements and launch a single online platform for consumers. Moreover, EJF encourages the Korean government to enshrine the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency into Korean fisheries legislation, and to adopt other international standards that protect fishermen’s rights and ensure seafood’s sustainability.
Steve Trent, EJF Co-Founder, and CEO stated: “In 2017, the Korean government reacted to international and local pressure around seafood legality by implementing traceability for seafood imports. However, there is a dire need for more action. The time is ripe to do the right thing for consumers, fishers around the world, and our oceans. As a significant flag state, port state, and market state, Korea can be a leading figure in sustainable fisheries, but currently, 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 that can be taken now to eliminate illegal, unsustainable, and unethical fishing. The barrier is broken, but the Korean government can repair it now.”
Korea is the fifth-leading importer of seafood globally, imported 6.4 million tons of seafood from 132 countries in 2021, with a total value of US$62 billion. The top five nations for seafood trade are China, Russia, Vietnam, Norway, and the United States, representing 67% of Korea’s total seafood imports. Seafood products from the top three nations are frequently linked to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and human rights violations.
EJF is a registered charity functioning in England and Wales (1088128), working to protect the environment and safeguard human rights. The NGO has urged consumers to distance themselves from seafood that is not traceable and supports practices that are sustainable and ethical. Customers can also demand transparency from the seafood industry and call for increased regulations in the seafood supply chain.
