Actors and action situations in fisheries management laws: A case study of South Korea

Abstract

Institutional statements play a crucial role in shaping resources management. This study examines the institutional design of fisheries laws in South Korea, focusing on the actors, the networks of actors across different scales and levels, and the action situations articulated in the institutional statements. Specifically, it seeks to identify the actors and their networks referenced in these statements and the action situations described. Institutional statements are significant as they define the action situations in which actors engage and outline the extent to which actors can operate within their respective environments. To achieve this, the study investigates two Korean fisheries laws: the Fisheries Resources Management Act and the Jayul Management of Fisheries Act. The findings reveal that these laws address governmental actors at different scales and levels, as well as nonprofit organizations, in contexts involving monitoring, sanctioning, coordination, and rulemaking action situations.