According to a recent survey, 77.8% of fishing vessel operators actively use machinery during their operations.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the results of its "Machinery Utilization Rate Survey in Fisheries Production" on June 29. This survey, the first national approved statistics aimed at systematically assessing the level of equipment utilization in the fisheries production stage, was conducted from October 13 to November 20 last year, targeting 1,500 fishing vessel and aquaculture management operations nationwide.
The survey found that as of 2024, the machinery utilization rate among fishing vessel operators is significantly higher than that of the aquaculture sector, which stands at 59.2%. Notably, the use of machinery in the process of retrieving fishing gear (fishing operations) reached 86.9%, while the utilization rate of auxiliary equipment and exploration devices was 67.6%.
However, the rate of smartization was only 0.1%, and automation was a mere 3.7%.
Among the various stages of fishing vessel operations, the highest machinery utilization rate was observed in the installation of fishing gear, with a rate of 78.6%.
In addition, the Ministry has established a legal framework for promoting the fisheries equipment industry through the enactment of the "Law on the Promotion of the Fisheries Equipment Industry and Smartization." Future plans include the establishment of smart aquaculture clusters, the construction of fisheries equipment testing and certification centers, and the provision of equipment rental services to support the industry and fishing operators.
Yang Young-jin, Director of Fisheries Policy at the Ministry, stated, "This survey is significant as it is the first national approved statistics investigation to systematically assess the level of mechanization in the fisheries production stage. We will actively build a foundation for the fisheries equipment industry and smart fishing to reduce labor burdens in the field and enhance productivity."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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