Maritime Environment and Fisheries Regulation
What this domain tests
This section tests 해양환경관리법, 수산업법, and 배타적경제수역법. Questions typically involve pollution response, illegal fishing, foreign vessels in the EEZ, and the limits of enforcement.
Core rules
- 해양환경관리법 regulates discharges from vessels and marine facilities, oil-pollution response, and cleanup obligations. MARPOL standards are relevant for ship-source pollution.
- 수산업법 controls fishing licenses, gear and methods, closed seasons, and handling of catches. Unlicensed fishing and gear violations are common enforcement targets.
- EEZ법 gives Korea sovereign rights over natural-resource exploration and exploitation, plus jurisdiction over marine scientific research and environmental protection. It does not give full territorial sovereignty.
- Enforcement may include stopping, boarding, inspection, arrest, and notification to the flag state.
Worked example
A foreign fishing vessel is found fishing inside Korea’s EEZ without a license. The coast guard may stop and board the vessel, inspect the gear and catch, and take enforcement action under EEZ law. Reasoning: the EEZ is not Korean territory, but Korea has sovereign rights over fisheries resources; enforcement must follow the statutory procedure and flag-state notification rules.
Traps
Do not confuse the territorial sea (12 nm), contiguous zone (24 nm), and EEZ (up to 200 nm). Do not apply 수산업법 automatically to foreign vessels in the EEZ without checking EEZ law. Do not ignore pollution-reporting and cleanup duties.
Key points
- EEZ rights are resource-related, not full sovereignty.
- Foreign fishing in the EEZ requires authorization.
- Boarding and inspection must follow statutory procedure.
- 수산업법 governs licenses, gear, and catch handling.
- Pollution response duties arise quickly after a spill.