In the summer, it is easy to find people searching for something in the water on Jeju's beaches.

They are local residents and tourists engaging in "haerujil," a traditional form of shallow-water foraging.

Recently, catching blue crabs has gained popularity via social media, making Jeju's seas even more bustling.

Haerujil is the practice of catching fish and shellfish in shallow waters during low tide, often using lights at night, or catching fish drawn to the illumination.

According to the Underwater Leisure Sports Act, haerujil is classified not as a commercial activity to harvest and sell marine products, but as a hobby or leisure activity for non-fishermen.

Before engaging in haerujil, individuals must first check whether the public waters are open for anyone to access.

Village fishing grounds managed by local fishing communities, identified by nearby fish farms or warning signs, serve as livelihoods for residents and must not be entered without permission.

Because blue crabs are an alien species, there are few restrictions on catching them, but farmed abalones, conches, and other marine life cannot be harvested.

In port areas with heavy vessel traffic, permission must be obtained prior to conducting haerujil.

In fact, on June 20 at 10:30 PM, a police officer in his 40s affiliated with the Seogwipo Police Station, identified as Police Inspector A, was caught catching octopus and other marine life without permission in the waters around Hallim Port in Jeju City and was fined 900,000 won.

Checking the tide times is also essential.

On the 4th of last month at 10:29 PM, two men in their 20s who were catching blue crabs in the waters near Handogyo Bridge in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo, became stranded and were rescued by the Coast Guard.

As the water rose rapidly while they were catching blue crabs, they determined it would be difficult to escape on their own and reported the situation to the Coast Guard.

Fortunately, they were safely rescued by the Coast Guard, but it was a moment that could have easily led to a major accident.

It is also necessary to check for closed seasons.

Illegally harvesting marine products during a closed season can lead to criminal booking for violating the Fishery Resources Management Act.

Additionally, while landing nets and tongs can be used during haerujil, using fishing lights or motorized equipment is prohibited, requiring caution.

The conflicts that arise every year between local fishing communities and non-commercial individuals over haerujil remain a problem to be solved.

Haenyeo (female divers) and other members of fishing communities argue, "Haerujil must be strictly restricted to prevent the depletion of fishery resources in village fishing grounds."

On the other hand, haerujil clubs and the leisure industry counter by asking, "Do the seas belong exclusively to the fishing communities?" and argue that restrictive measures on leisure activities like haerujil are excessive.

Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people engaging in haerujil in secluded coastal areas increased, pushing these conflicts to their peak.

Consequently, in April 2021, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province issued the nation's first "Notice on Restrictions and Conditions for Catching and Harvesting by Non-Fishermen," limiting haerujil from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

This effectively banned nighttime haerujil.

The notice also stipulated that "within village fishing ground zones, sedentary marine animals such as clams seeded with juveniles, seaweeds, and sea cucumbers, in addition to fish, octopuses, crabs, and sea snails, must not be caught or harvested."

Although Jeju Province imposed a total of 44 million won in fines for 55 violations under this notice, it repealed the notice in June of last year following judgments that it violated higher-level laws.

This was because the notice constituted a regulation without a basis in higher-level laws, and because the Fishery Resources Management Act lacked specific criteria or penalty provisions regarding haerujil, leaving authorities with no way to penalize violations even when conflict-related civil complaints were filed.

Amid this situation, an amendment to the Fishery Resources Management Act strengthening haerujil regulations passed the National Assembly in March, heralding yet another change in the seas off Jeju.

The amendment newly added "time" and "location" to the restriction criteria for non-commercial capture and harvest of fishery resources, which had previously been limited to fishing gear, methods, and quantities.

The amendment is set to take effect in April of next year.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is currently reviewing criteria for restricting time and locations through a commissioned study and plans to establish an enforcement decree containing specific criteria in the near future.

Once the Ministry's criteria are established, Jeju Province plans to enact ordinances tailored to Jeju's local conditions, such as banning nighttime haerujil and restricting harvesting in areas with village fishing rights, including specific zones.

An official from Jeju Province stated, "Whether we can designate restricted marine species like the past notice will only be known after the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' enforcement decree is released," adding, "Once the enforcement decree is established, we plan to enact the ordinance with the goal of the first half of next year."

(Photo: Yonhap News)