Developing a Gear-based Fisheries Management Index for coastal and offshore fisheries in Korea – Global Seafood Alliance

Report on the Development and Application of the Gear-based Fisheries Management Index (GFMI) in Korea

Introduction and Context

The Gear-based Fisheries Management Index (GFMI) was developed to address the complexities of fisheries management in Korea by focusing on gear-specific attributes linked to ecological sustainability, ecosystem effects, regulatory compliance, and socio-economic performance. This approach aligns closely with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Background and Rationale

• The precautionary principle, a core tenet of modern fisheries management and ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM), emphasizes caution to safeguard marine ecosystems and ensure long-term resource health, supporting SDG 14.
• Korea’s fisheries are characterized by diverse gear types and small-scale operations, complicating traditional species-centric management approaches.
• Existing management systems such as total allowable catch have limitations in addressing the heterogeneity of fisheries gear impacts.
• The GFMI was proposed as a gear-based analytical tool to systematically assess and compare fisheries, facilitating targeted management interventions.

Study Setup and Methodology

The GFMI framework, based on the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) “ideal gear attributes,” was developed for 24 coastal and offshore fisheries in Korea. It encompasses three primary objectives:

1. Gear Controllability: Assessing the ability to control catch and reduce bycatch.
2. Environmental Sustainability: Evaluating ecosystem impacts including habitat disturbance and reproductive capacity.
3. Operational Functionality: Considering operational aspects such as gear cost, ease of use, and crew safety.

Sub-indicators and weighting factors were derived through expert consultation to ensure comprehensive evaluation. This multidimensional approach supports SDG 14 by promoting sustainable use of marine resources and SDG 8 by enhancing operational safety and economic viability.

Results and Discussion

Key Findings

• Coastal Fisheries: Coastal gillnet and improved stow net fisheries exhibited high GFMI scores, indicating significant management challenges related to bycatch, reproductive capacity, and gear loss.
• Offshore Fisheries: Large bottom pair trawls and medium-size bottom pair trawls scored high due to habitat impacts and fishing mechanisms.
• Operational Vulnerabilities: Certain fisheries such as coastal purse seines showed lower scores, reflecting better species selectivity and operational ease.

Policy Implications and SDG Integration

The GFMI provides a practical basis for prioritizing management actions that contribute to multiple SDGs:

• Improving Selectivity: Encouraging the use of larger mesh sizes and escapement devices to reduce bycatch supports SDG 14 by protecting marine biodiversity.
• Promoting Gear Substitution: Incentivizing transitions to more sustainable gear aligns with SDG 12 by fostering responsible production practices.
• Preventing Gear Loss: Implementing biodegradable panels and gear tracking systems reduces marine pollution, contributing to SDG 14.
• Enhancing Crew Safety: Providing safety equipment subsidies and training supports SDG 8 by promoting decent work conditions.

Limitations and Future Directions

1. The GFMI does not explicitly model species ecosystem interactions, limiting its scope compared to ecosystem-based models.
2. Data availability and reliance on expert elicitation may affect indicator accuracy and comparability.
3. The index is tailored to Korea’s fisheries and requires calibration for international application.
4. Temporal responsiveness is limited, necessitating development of time-series analyses to capture dynamic changes.

Future work aims to incorporate ecosystem dynamics, enhance data-driven methods, improve cross-national comparability, and integrate socioeconomic indicators to strengthen policy relevance and support SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through equitable resource management.

Conclusions and Perspectives

The GFMI represents an innovative, intermediate tool between qualitative assessments and complex ecosystem models. By focusing on gear-specific vulnerabilities and integrating ecological, technical, and operational dimensions, it supports sustainable fisheries management consistent with SDG 14 and related goals.

This index enables targeted, multidimensional management strategies rather than broad, single-instrument policies, facilitating sustainable economic growth (SDG 8) and responsible resource use (SDG 12).

Expanding the GFMI’s generality and policy utility through ecosystem integration, data enhancement, and socioeconomic considerations will further its contribution to global sustainable fisheries management efforts.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article focuses on sustainable fisheries management in Korea, emphasizing ecological sustainability, ecosystem effects, and regulatory compliance to safeguard marine resources and ecosystems.
   • It discusses ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM), precautionary principles, and minimizing ecosystem impacts, all directly related to conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The Gear-based Fisheries Management Index (GFMI) promotes sustainable fishing practices by improving gear selectivity, preventing gear loss, and encouraging gear substitution, which aligns with sustainable consumption and production patterns.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article addresses socio-economic performance and crew safety in fisheries, highlighting operational functionality and the need for safety training and subsidies, which relate to promoting safe and secure working environments and sustainable economic growth.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.4: By 2025, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible.
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, including marine resources.
   • Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse, which can be linked to preventing gear loss and promoting biodegradable gear components.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including fishery workers.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Ecological and Ecosystem Indicators
   • Average trophic level of marine ecosystems (indicator of ecosystem health and overfishing impact).
   • Bycatch rates and composition (percentage of non-target species caught, e.g., gillnets accounting for 71.2% of bycatch).
   • Reproductive capacity penalties (impact on fish populations’ ability to reproduce).
   • Habitat impact scores (effect of fishing gear on marine habitats).
2. Operational and Socio-economic Indicators
   • Gear loss rates and risk assessments (frequency and impact of lost fishing gear).
   • Gear cost and operational ease (economic and functional vulnerabilities of fishing gear).
   • Accident rates and crew safety metrics (workplace safety indicators).
   • Compliance with regulatory measures such as gear registration and tracking systems.
3. Composite Index
   • The Gear-based Fisheries Management Index (GFMI) itself, which integrates multiple sub-indicators related to ecological sustainability, ecosystem effects, regulatory compliance, and socio-economic performance to provide a quantitative measure of fisheries management effectiveness.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: globalseafood.org