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Registered Fishing Vessels Down 590 to 63,141 in 2025 Due to Reduction Efforts
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2026.08.25.
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Registered Fishing Vessels Down 590 to 63,141 in 2025 Due to Reduction Efforts
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that the number of registered fishing vessels in Korea decreased by 590 to 63,141 in 2025 compared to 2024.
The number of registered fishing vessels has shown a declining trend* since 2000, primarily due to coastal and offshore fishing vessel reduction programs implemented for fisheries resource management among other measures.
* (2000) 95,890 vessels → (2010) 76,974 → (2015) 67,226 → (2020) 65,744 → (2023) 64,233 → (2024) 63,731 → (2025) 63,141
By type of fishery, coastal fishing vessels were the most common, numbering 36,016 (57.0%). By vessel size, vessels under 5 tons were the most common, numbering 49,988 (79.2%). Most fishing vessels—61,318 (97.1%)—were made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP).
Fishing vessels aged 21 years or older numbered 27,506, accounting for 43.6% of the total. By region, 42.3% (26,689 vessels) of the total fishing vessels were in Jeonnam Province, followed by Gyeongnam, Chungnam, Busan, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk provinces.
“These statistics will provide important baseline data for policies on fishing vessel safety and support for fishers. We will use the findings to help create safer working conditions for fishers at sea,” said Choi Hyun-ho, Deputy Minister for Fisheries Policy at MOF.
Statistics on registered fishing vessels are available on the Marine and Fisheries Statistics System (www.mof.go.kr/statPortal) and the National Statistical Portal website (kosis.kr).
- MOF announces 2025 registered fishing vessel statistics
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that the number of registered fishing vessels in Korea decreased by 590 to 63,141 in 2025 compared to 2024.
The number of registered fishing vessels has shown a declining trend* since 2000, primarily due to coastal and offshore fishing vessel reduction programs implemented for fisheries resource management among other measures.
* (2000) 95,890 vessels → (2010) 76,974 → (2015) 67,226 → (2020) 65,744 → (2023) 64,233 → (2024) 63,731 → (2025) 63,141
By type of fishery, coastal fishing vessels were the most common, numbering 36,016 (57.0%). By vessel size, vessels under 5 tons were the most common, numbering 49,988 (79.2%). Most fishing vessels—61,318 (97.1%)—were made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP).
Fishing vessels aged 21 years or older numbered 27,506, accounting for 43.6% of the total. By region, 42.3% (26,689 vessels) of the total fishing vessels were in Jeonnam Province, followed by Gyeongnam, Chungnam, Busan, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk provinces.
“These statistics will provide important baseline data for policies on fishing vessel safety and support for fishers. We will use the findings to help create safer working conditions for fishers at sea,” said Choi Hyun-ho, Deputy Minister for Fisheries Policy at MOF.
Statistics on registered fishing vessels are available on the Marine and Fisheries Statistics System (www.mof.go.kr/statPortal) and the National Statistical Portal website (kosis.kr).
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