Most of the catch is used for human consumption. Fishing is carried out by private fishermen grouped in fisheries cooperatives. Catches comprise hairtail, mackerel, shark, anchovy, corvenia, and mixed demersal species. The distant-water fishing fleet has expanded rapidly in the last 25 years reaching the peak of 878 vessels in 1976. The majority of the fleet are tuna longliners and trawlers operating from overseas fishing bases, particularly in the Atlantic, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean.
Catches comprise mainly tuna, squid, anchovy and shrimp and are generally consumed in Korea.
The introduction of EEZs by coastal countries, the rise in oil prices and the drop in the market price of tuna, created the need for fleet adjustment and more active foreign policy. By 1995, the number of vessels dropped to 640. In recent years, the Korean Government has been very active in negotiating fisheries agreements with coastal countries that have abundant resources in their economic zones. It lead to the conclusion of 14 bilateral fisheries agreements. Korea also joined 10 international fisheries organizations as of the end of February 1996.