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  July 20, 2001 atimes.com  

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The Koreas

Korean fishing fleet waiting for heat

SEOUL - Korean boats will be able to start fishing off the Southern Kuriles from early next month, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said on Thursday.

The ministry said that the delay in starting fishing operations was due to adverse water temperatures in the region, which remained at around 5-9 degrees Celsius, well below the optimum 10-12 degrees needed to attract fish.

Korean boats deployed in the area are said to be catching fish outside the designated area in international waters until conditions improve. "Adverse conditions are responsible for the delays, and it has nothing to do with the fishing dispute between Korea and Japan," a government official said.

Korea signed an agreement with Russia late last year that allows it to send 26 boats to fish for saury in waters controlled by Russia until November 15. The boats will remit US$57 for every ton of fish caught, and will be able to catch a total of 15,000 tons during this period.

The southernmost Kuriles, with its four islets, were claimed by both Russia and Japan after they were occupied by Soviet troops in 1945.

The decision to fish off Habomai, Shikotan, Etorofu and Kunashiri has degenerated into a diplomatic wrestling match between Korea and Japan, with the latter protesting that any deal with Russia compromised its own position in the dispute. In retaliation, Tokyo said that unless Korea supports its claims to the region, it would not permit Korean boats to catch fish off Sanriku, which lies off the northwestern coast of Honshu.

The two sides have since been sorting out their differences, with Japan indicating that it could overlook Korean boats' operations in the Kuriles if Seoul recognized Tokyo's position on the four islets. Korea has so far rejected the proposal, stressing that it did not want to become embroiled in a dispute between Russia and Japan.

(Asia Pulse)

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