North Korea’s cabinet has directed fishing companies in Kangwon province to implement advanced technology for monitoring illegal fishing and developing aquaculture. The Oct. 22 directive, issued through provincial authorities, aims to enhance marine resource management and boost the regional fishing industry.
The Ministry of Fisheries’ stated goal is to develop Kangwon province’s fishing industry and the regional economy as a whole, a source in the province told Daily NK recently.
The source explained that the directive was prompted by a “September report by Kangwon province’s fisheries management bureau, which said that illegal fishing is on the rise in the province.”
He told Daily NK that “the report appears to have exacerbated concerns that fisheries could be depleted and fishing productivity could decline.”
According to the source, illegal fishing by private vessel owners in collusion with fishing companies is particularly prevalent during the winter months.
In an attempt to tackle this intractable problem, the fisheries ministry has ordered the fisheries management bureau and individual fishing companies to step up enforcement through the use of cutting-edge technology such as drones and satellite tracking systems. The ministry also expects that this will help prevent North Koreans from defecting by sea.
In accordance with the ministry’s directive, the province’s fishery management bureau has announced a month-long intensive enforcement period beginning Nov. 4, and plans to monitor illegal fishing vessels with drones and satellite tracking systems and drones. Navy vessels will cooperate with the bureau’s efforts.
“The provincial fishery management bureau intends to use a satellite tracking system to locate all fishing vessels entering the area in real time and transmit data on their location to the central command post. It also plans to closely monitor the coastline and key fishing areas with drones to quickly identify and prevent illegal activities,” the source said.
“This is expected to support the state’s policy of severely punishing private ship owners involved in illegal fishing activities through links with fishing companies and confiscating their illegal proceeds,” the source said.
In the same directive, the fisheries ministry asked the province’s fisheries management bureau and fishing companies to focus on using the latest technology to manage water temperature and quality to improve fish survival rates, thereby promoting aquaculture and increasing productivity in the sector.
“Fishing companies agree with the state’s goal of developing aquaculture as part of the 20×10 regional development policy. But company representatives say they can’t achieve such development in the aquaculture sector on their own because of insufficient support from the state,” the source said.
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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November 06, 2024 at 06:00AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)