South Korean agencies distribute safety equipment to fishers

The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (Suhyup), the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Korea Big & Small Business, Agriculture & Fisheries Cooperation Foundation have launched a project to distribute essential safety equipment to fishers using the Rural and Fishing Village Win-Win Cooperation Fund.

Through this initiative, 431 automatic fire extinguishing devices for unmanned engine rooms and 237 sets of inflatable life jackets were distributed free of charge to 18 fishing villages across South Korea. This follows a previous support effort last year that provided 2,348 inflatable life jackets.

The project aims to mitigate risks such as falls at sea and engine room fires while fostering a culture of safety compliance within fishing communities. The fund was supported by 11 public and private entities, including Lotte Duty Free, the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, and the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology.

A ceremony and safety campaign were held at the Dongsam Fishing Village in Busan to demonstrate the correct use of life jackets and emphasize the importance of safety protocols during fishing operations.