Chungcheongnam-do Province announced on the 25th that it will accept applications for the 'Public Interest Direct Payment for Fisheries' in person at the administrative welfare centers of townships and neighborhoods located in fishing villages from May 1st to the end of July.

The Public Interest Direct Payment for Fisheries is a system implemented to reduce income disparity among fishermen and stabilize the income of fishing households. This year, applications will be accepted for △Small-Scale Fishery Household Direct Payment, △Disadvantaged Area Direct Payment, and △Crew Member Direct Payment.

The Small-Scale Fishery Household Direct Payment provides an annual payment of 1.3 million KRW to small-scale fishing households that reside in fishing villages, have been engaged in fishing for more than three years up to the previous year, and own a vessel of less than 5 tons, among other requirements.

The Disadvantaged Area Direct Payment provides 640,000 KRW (out of a total of 800,000 KRW, excluding 160,000 KRW for the village common fund) to fishing households whose primary occupation is fishing and who reside in areas designated and publicly notified by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

Applicants for the Small-Scale Fishery Household Direct Payment and the Disadvantaged Area Direct Payment must be registered as fishery business entities under the 'Act on the Promotion of Agriculture and Fishery Business Operators' before applying. Therefore, registration must be completed through the Daesan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries prior to application.

The Crew Member Direct Payment provides 1.3 million KRW if the crew member of a Republic of Korea-flagged vessel meets specific conditions, such as maintaining an employment relationship or being on board and providing labor for at least six months of the year based on the previous year with the vessel owner of the application year.

The Public Interest Direct Payment for Fisheries cannot be received in duplicate with direct payments for agriculture and forestry, and beneficiaries must comply with mandatory requirements such as completing related education and adhering to fisheries-related laws and regulations.

For more details, please contact the relevant administrative agency or check the Fisheries Information Portal (www.fips.go.kr).

Jeon Sang-wook, Director of the Maritime and Fisheries Bureau, stated, "In accordance with the 'Enforcement Decree of the Fisheries Direct Payment Act,' which was revised and implemented on April 1st, households engaged in inland aquaculture in privately owned waters are also included in the application 대상 (eligible recipients)." He added, "We hope that the Public Interest Direct Payment for Fisheries will provide practical assistance to fishermen who are experiencing management difficulties due to climate change and declining resources."

Meanwhile, in addition to the three categories for which applications are currently being accepted, the Public Interest Direct Payment for Fisheries also includes △Management Transfer Direct Payment, △Eco-Friendly Aquaculture Production Support Direct Payment, and △Fishery Resource Protection Direct Payment.

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