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Korea's Catch Quota for South Pacific Horse Mackerel for This Year Set at 19,966 Tons, an 8% Increase Over the Previous Year

  • Date

    2026.03.18.

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    329

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Korea's Catch Quota for South Pacific Horse Mackerel for This Year Set at 19,966 Tons, an 8% Increase Over the Previous Year
- Decision made at the 14th General Assembly of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO*)
  • Deputy Director Kim Jeong-rye's term as Commission Chairperson to be extended by two years


  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced that the 14th General Assembly of SPRFMO held in Panama City, Panama on March 2–6, 2026 has set Korea's 2026 catch quota for horse mackerel at 19,966 tons**.

  * SPRFMO: An international organization established in 2012 for the conservation and management of non-tuna species, such as South Pacific jack mackerel and giant squid (consisting of 17 member countries including South Korea, New Zealand, United States, EU, China, Chile, and Australia)

 ** Up by approximately 7.9% compared to 18,506 tons in the previous year (2025)

  Korea's catch quota for horse mackerel has steadily increased from 7,578 tons in 2019 due to the recovery of horse mackerel resources. This can be attributed to the fact that member countries of SPRFMO such as Korea, Chile, and the EU have systematically managed resources based on scientific information.

  Various proposals, including reducing the maximum number of vessels allowed to fish for giant squid, strengthening inspections of vessels entering ports, and enhancing measures to reduce seabird bycatch were adopted by this General Assembly alongside three proposals submitted by Korea: ▲ conservation and management measure for horse mackerel, ▲ data submission standards, and ▲ amendments to the Secretariat's staff regulations. These measures are scheduled to take effect 90 days after the official release of the meeting results.

  Furthermore, Deputy Director Kim Jeong-rye from MOF’s International Cooperation Division, who serves as Chairperson of the SPRFMO Commission, has completed her initial two-year term from 2025 to 2026 and has had her term extended for an additional two years from 2027 to 2028 with overwhelming support from member countries.
  Deputy Director Kim has previously held key leadership positions in major international fisheries organizations, serving as Chairperson of the Commission and Chairperson of the Implementation Committee in bodies such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). More recently, she has also served as Vice-Chairperson of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), receiving broad recognition for her outstanding international leadership.

  "Korea is not only focused on securing its fishing interests in distant waters but is also leading discussions on key issues within international fisheries organizations such as resource conservation, fishing monitoring, and protection of bycatch species. We will continue to communicate and collaborate closely with other member countries and the secretariats of each international organization to enhance Korea's influence and status further in the international community,” said Seo Jeong-ho, Director General for Marine Policy at MOF.
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