Overview

• More than 1,300 giant bluefin tuna caught July 8 were released at sea after Yeongdeok’s 35-ton allocation was exceeded
• North Gyeongsang’s annual bluefin quota is 110 tons, with Yeongdeok’s share fully used before the haul
• East Sea bluefin landings rose nearly fivefold from 3,372 tons in 2020 to 163,921 tons in 2024 amid warming waters
• Korea’s Fisheries Act and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission rules impose fines or imprisonment for over-quota catches
• Fishermen and local officials will formalize requests for increased regional allocations and faster over-quota handling