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Joint Survey of Safety, Health, and Working Environments for Fishery Workers by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Ministry of Employment and Labor
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Date
2026.08.21.
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Joint Survey of Safety, Health, and Working Environments for Fishery Workers by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Ministry of Employment and Labor
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL; Minister Kim Young-hoon)—together with five other participating organizations, including local governments—announced the results of a survey on the safety, health, and working environments of 250 aquaculture farms and salt farms nationwide from March to July of this year.
* Workplaces (250): 130 shallow-water aquaculture sites, 70 inland aquaculture sites, 50 salt farms/Participating agencies (7): MOF, MOEL, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Korea Salt Manufacture Association, Korea Maritime Safety and Security Agency, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, and local governments
The on-site inspection was conducted by developing a checklist based on the Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Fishery Safety Disaster Prevention Manual. It involved quantitative evaluations of business owners and workers, workplaces, and equipment as well as qualitative assessments across eight major categories, including hazardous and risk factors.
The inspection results showed that the average number of workers in 250 workplaces (2,791 workers in all) was 11 and the proportion of foreigners was 17%; men accounted for 55%, elderly workers constituted 52%, and self-employed owners made up 30%. The average enrollment rate for five insurances* was 44%, with 70% of businesses recording annual sales of KRW 100 million or more. In the case of salt farms, however, the proportion of self-employed owners was 68.5%, and the enrollment rate for the five types of insurance was 8.0%; 2.0% recorded sales of KRW 100 million or more, showing a significant difference from the average for workplaces.
* Five insurances: Industrial accidents, fire, injury, employment, and fisheries safety
The quantitative survey on the actual conditions covered 76 questions regarding employers, employees, workplaces, and equipment; the average safety and health score in the fisheries sector was 1.97 points (on a 5-point scale), indicating that it is very vulnerable. By industry sector, coastal aquaculture garnered the highest score with 2.04 points, followed by inland aquaculture with 1.96 points and salt farms with 1.88 points.
The qualitative assessment results identified common vulnerabilities including insufficient risk assessments, inadequate posting of Material Safety Data Sheets* (MSDS), and failure to attach safety signs. By workplace type, the main risk factors varied by sector: coastal aquaculture operations showed vulnerabilities such as falls overboard and unsafe handling of heavy loads; inland aquaculture facilities had issues including inadequate safety covers on mixers, suffocation hazards, and insufficient electrical equipment grounding; and salt farms posed risks such as extreme heat exposure, fall hazards around waterways and embankments, and confined-space hazards in brine storage tanks.
* Material Safety Data Sheet: A specification required for the safe handling and management of chemical substances
Accordingly, it was found that there is an urgent need to raise safety and health awareness and strengthen education for business owners and workers in the fisheries sector, eliminate institutional blind spots through joint safety inspections of workplaces, and provide government support for the improvement of safety facilities and equipment.
“We will work closely with MOF to address the risks identified in this joint government survey, while also cooperating with local governments on their initiatives to prevent serious accidents in the fisheries sector. Salt farms and indoor aquaculture facilities are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and suffocation during the summer, so we will step up inspections to help prevent such accidents,” said Lee Min-jae, Director General of Occupational Safety and Health Policy at MOEL.
“This survey confirmed that working conditions at aquaculture farms and salt farms are generally very poor. We will work with the relevant ministries to closely analyze the findings, review the overall safety and health management system in the fisheries sector, and develop measures for improvement. With the newly established Fishermen's Safety Planning Division dedicated to improving working conditions in the fisheries sector, including safety, health, employment, and labor conditions, we will also work to systematically improve conditions for workers,” said Choi Hyun-ho, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Policy at MOF.
* Dedicated department for improving working conditions including fishermen's safety; autonomous body of MOF (created on August 10, 2026)
- Targeting 250 aquaculture and salt farm sites nationwide, 7 agencies participating
- Workers exposed to safety risks such as falls, suffocation, and electric shock; need for urgent improvement of the working environment
- Workers exposed to safety risks such as falls, suffocation, and electric shock; need for urgent improvement of the working environment
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL; Minister Kim Young-hoon)—together with five other participating organizations, including local governments—announced the results of a survey on the safety, health, and working environments of 250 aquaculture farms and salt farms nationwide from March to July of this year.
* Workplaces (250): 130 shallow-water aquaculture sites, 70 inland aquaculture sites, 50 salt farms/Participating agencies (7): MOF, MOEL, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Korea Salt Manufacture Association, Korea Maritime Safety and Security Agency, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, and local governments
The on-site inspection was conducted by developing a checklist based on the Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Fishery Safety Disaster Prevention Manual. It involved quantitative evaluations of business owners and workers, workplaces, and equipment as well as qualitative assessments across eight major categories, including hazardous and risk factors.
The inspection results showed that the average number of workers in 250 workplaces (2,791 workers in all) was 11 and the proportion of foreigners was 17%; men accounted for 55%, elderly workers constituted 52%, and self-employed owners made up 30%. The average enrollment rate for five insurances* was 44%, with 70% of businesses recording annual sales of KRW 100 million or more. In the case of salt farms, however, the proportion of self-employed owners was 68.5%, and the enrollment rate for the five types of insurance was 8.0%; 2.0% recorded sales of KRW 100 million or more, showing a significant difference from the average for workplaces.
* Five insurances: Industrial accidents, fire, injury, employment, and fisheries safety
The quantitative survey on the actual conditions covered 76 questions regarding employers, employees, workplaces, and equipment; the average safety and health score in the fisheries sector was 1.97 points (on a 5-point scale), indicating that it is very vulnerable. By industry sector, coastal aquaculture garnered the highest score with 2.04 points, followed by inland aquaculture with 1.96 points and salt farms with 1.88 points.
The qualitative assessment results identified common vulnerabilities including insufficient risk assessments, inadequate posting of Material Safety Data Sheets* (MSDS), and failure to attach safety signs. By workplace type, the main risk factors varied by sector: coastal aquaculture operations showed vulnerabilities such as falls overboard and unsafe handling of heavy loads; inland aquaculture facilities had issues including inadequate safety covers on mixers, suffocation hazards, and insufficient electrical equipment grounding; and salt farms posed risks such as extreme heat exposure, fall hazards around waterways and embankments, and confined-space hazards in brine storage tanks.
* Material Safety Data Sheet: A specification required for the safe handling and management of chemical substances
Accordingly, it was found that there is an urgent need to raise safety and health awareness and strengthen education for business owners and workers in the fisheries sector, eliminate institutional blind spots through joint safety inspections of workplaces, and provide government support for the improvement of safety facilities and equipment.
“We will work closely with MOF to address the risks identified in this joint government survey, while also cooperating with local governments on their initiatives to prevent serious accidents in the fisheries sector. Salt farms and indoor aquaculture facilities are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and suffocation during the summer, so we will step up inspections to help prevent such accidents,” said Lee Min-jae, Director General of Occupational Safety and Health Policy at MOEL.
“This survey confirmed that working conditions at aquaculture farms and salt farms are generally very poor. We will work with the relevant ministries to closely analyze the findings, review the overall safety and health management system in the fisheries sector, and develop measures for improvement. With the newly established Fishermen's Safety Planning Division dedicated to improving working conditions in the fisheries sector, including safety, health, employment, and labor conditions, we will also work to systematically improve conditions for workers,” said Choi Hyun-ho, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Policy at MOF.
* Dedicated department for improving working conditions including fishermen's safety; autonomous body of MOF (created on August 10, 2026)
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