Fisherman
Overview
A fisherman (漁夫) is a person who makes a living from fishing (漁業) in waters such as the sea, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, catching or gathering marine products such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and seaweed. Beyond being a simple labor occupation, it is one of the oldest professions that has supported humanity's food supply and the economies of coastal regions, and today the concept has expanded to encompass traditional self-employed workers, sailors, and aquaculture workers. In national statistics and industrial classification, fishermen belong to the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries group of the primary industry, but they are a complex occupational group strongly connected to forward and backward industries such as vessels, ports, distribution, and processing.
Main Content
Definition and Classification
Fishermen are largely divided into those engaged in offshore fishing, distant-water fishing, coastal fishing, and inland water fishing. In the case of Korea, under the Fisheries Act and the Seafarers Act, they are classified into fishing vessel crew members who board fishing vessels and engage in fishing operations, self-employed fishermen belonging to fishing village cooperatives, and fisheries operators who run set-net operations or aquaculture farms. Wages structures and labor intensity vary greatly depending on the size of the fishing vessel, the fishing area, and the fishing gear used (nets, traps, fishing lines), and the income gap between self-employed workers and wage laborers is also considerable.
Historical Background
Fishing has a history of thousands of years, as confirmed by shell mound remains from the Neolithic period. In ancient times, it was at the level of coastal gathering using nets, harpoons, and traps, but during the Joseon Dynasty, the concept of managing fishing grounds and fishing rights emerged. After the 19th century, with the introduction of steamships and refrigeration technology, the scope of fishing operations expanded rapidly, and in the 20th century, large trawlers and distant-water fishing vessels appeared, transforming fishermen into large-scale industrial workers. Korea went through the heyday of distant-water fishing in the 1970s and 1980s, during which fishermen played a leading role in earning foreign currency for the nation.
Working Environment and Risks
Fishermen work in high-risk environments such as storms, hypothermia, vessel accidents, and injuries from fishing gear. The International Labour Organization (ILO) classifies fishing as one of the most dangerous occupations and reports that the mortality rate of seafarers is several times higher than that of general land-based occupations. Long-term distant-water fishing is also associated with issues such as family separation, deterioration of mental health, and irregular sleep. Recently, safety operation regulations, mandatory wearing of life jackets, and installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have been institutionalized.
Economic Status
Fishing is an industry directly linked to food security and exports. Global marine product production has steadily increased thanks to the growth of aquaculture, and fishermen and aquaculture workers are estimated at more than about 60 million worldwide. As the share of aquaculture has grown, the distinction between traditional 'catching fishermen' and 'farming fishermen' has become important. Korea's fisheries sector has a small share of GDP, but its policy importance is great, especially in connection with regional economies and the aging of fishing villages.
Latest Trends
The key keywords for the fishing and fisherman environment in 2024–2025 are aging, climate change, technological transition, and sustainability.
- Aging and labor shortages: The fishing household population in Korean fishing villages continues to decline, and the proportion aged 65 or older has exceeded 40%. Dependence on foreign crew members is increasing, and multicultural fishing villages are growing.
- Climate change: As rising water temperatures push fishing grounds northward and change the composition of fish species, existing fishing patterns are being shaken. The decline in catches of traditional species such as pollock and squid is a representative example.
- Smart fishing: With the introduction of AI fish school detection, autonomous fishing vessels, and IoT-based aquaculture management systems, the concept of the 'digital fisherman' has emerged.
- Sustainability and regulation: Crackdowns on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, catch quota systems, and the expansion of marine protected areas are being strengthened. ESG management and eco-friendly certification (such as MSC) have emerged as key variables in the distribution of marine products.
- Welfare and safety: Discussions on improving the treatment of fishermen, such as safety insurance for fishing vessel crew, fisherman allowances, and expanded disaster compensation, are active.
Related Topics
- [[Fisheries]]
- [[Fishing Village]]
- [[Distant-water Fishing]]
- [[Aquaculture]]
- [[Climate Change]]
- [[Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]]
- [[Seafarer]]