Local fishermen on Yeonpyeong Island are locked in a dispute with municipal authorities over the disposal of fishing nets laden with crab remains. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
INCHEON, Nov. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – On Yeonpyeong Island, a fishing community situated near the maritime border with North Korea, local fishermen are locked in a dispute with municipal authorities over the disposal of fishing nets laden with crab remains, highlighting the environmental and economic challenges facing South Korea’s coastal communities.
In September, the Ongjin County government issued a directive prohibiting fishermen from depositing nets containing dead crabs at the local collection facility, citing mounting complaints about odors and difficulties in net incineration.
The decision marks a significant shift from previous practices, where the county would collect and dispose of all waste nets regardless of their condition.
“They’re putting an impossible burden on fishermen,” said Kim, a 60-year-old fisherman who requested partial anonymity.
“These nets come up with numerous unmarketable crabs – juveniles and soft-shell ones – and it’s practically impossible for us to clean them ourselves.”
The situation is particularly challenging on Yeonpyeong Island, where fishing operations are already constrained by security concerns due to its proximity to North Korea. Night fishing is prohibited, forcing fishermen to process their catch on land.
The labor-intensive process of separating crabs from nets requires 10-20 workers per boat, with hourly wages exceeding 20,000 won.
The financial burden extends beyond labor costs. Fishermen must pay approximately 7 million won per vessel annually just to transport waste nets to the collection facility. Adding to their difficulties is the lack of proper disposal facilities on the island.
The collection facility, established in 2019 with an area of 974 square meters, has reached its maximum capacity of 2,500 tons of waste nets. Additional nets in containers now overflow into nearby waste grounds.
While the Ongjin County government spent 850 million won this year to remove about 1,000 tons of waste nets through October, and plans to allocate 1 billion won next year to handle 1,200 tons, officials acknowledge these measures may not be sufficient to address the facility’s overcapacity issues.
The county maintains that fishermen must establish their own processing facilities and handle crab disposal independently, citing budget constraints. “Within our limited budget, we need fishermen to handle the crab remains themselves,” a county official said.
“While we recognize this isn’t an easy solution, we’re committed to finding alternatives through continued dialogue with the fishing community.”
Recent discussions between county officials and local fishermen failed to reach a compromise, leaving both sides at an impasse over this growing environmental and economic challenge in one of South Korea’s most strategically sensitive fishing regions.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
