Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance of Fishing Activities: Analysis of Policy Frameworks in the US, Australia, and New Zealand with Recommendations for the Republic of Korea

Abstract

Overexploitation and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing pose significant threats to the sustainability of fishery resources, highlighting the critical need for effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) in fisheries management. In response to being identified as a preliminary IUU fishing country in the 2010s, the Republic of Korea reformed its distant water fisheries management system, including MCS measures. However, challenges remain in the management of its coastal and offshore fisheries, particularly in areas such as ensuring timely catch reporting, linking location data to fishing activities, and integrating additional at-sea monitoring tools into fisheries management frameworks to verify and cross-check the accuracy of fisher-reported data. These needs are critical as Korea seeks to expand its Total Allowable Catch (TAC) program to cover all domestic fisheries by 2027.This study examines four at-sea monitoring tools—observer programs, electronic monitoring (EM) systems, vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and electronic reporting—implemented in the United States (primarily the North Pacific region), Australia, and New Zealand. Using a set of tailored questions, the study evaluates the respective policy frameworks of these tools through a review of fisheries laws, regulations, policy documents, and other publicly available sources. Additionally, an overview of Korea’s domestic fisheries provides the contextual foundation for the recommendations. Tool-specific recommendations focus on functions, coverage, operating institutions, funding mechanisms, and institutional considerations. These recommendations aim to assist the Korean government in designing and implementing robust at-sea monitoring programs for its domestic fisheries. Moreover, the findings are expected to offer valuable insights for other nations seeking to incorporate at-sea monitoring tools into their fisheries management frameworks.