Korea's tuna catch limit in Pacific Ocean to be raised in 2024

Pictured are tuna caught in the East Sea near Gangneung, Gangwon. The fishers are unloading the caught tuna back into the sea as they have fished over the quota. [JOONGANG PHOTO]

Korean fishers can catch more tuna in the Pacific Ocean next year under a regional fisheries body agreement, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Wednesday.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission granted Korea a quota of 883 tons of bluefin tuna in the region for 2024, up 135 tons from the previous ceiling, the ministry said.

The quota for bigeye tuna also increased by 1,394 tons to 15,336 tons.

"The latest decision came as the government and Korean fishers have been making efforts to reduce the amount of catch to recover maritime resources," Oceans Minister Cho Seung-hwan said.

"Korea remains committed to efforts aimed at establishing a rational and sustainable resource management policy, based on scientific data, within global maritime organizations," he added.

The commission sets limits on tuna catches to protect the dwindling species from overfishing. Pacific bluefin tuna populations have decreased due to overfishing and illegal fishing over the past few decades, while Atlantic bigeye tuna have also experienced overfishing, according to the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.

BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]