Closed Season Lookup
No-take periods by species (Korea)
Closed Season Lookup
Closed period
-
※ Korea Fishery Resources Management Act, Table 1 (as of 2026-01-01). Some periods are set annually by notice and vary by region/gear. Verify before fishing.
Full closed-season list
| Scallop | Mar 1 - Jun 30 |
| Largehead hairtail | Jul 1 - Jul 31 (north of 33°N, some gear excl.) |
| Black seabream | May 1 - May 31 |
| Mackerel | 1 month within Apr-Jun (notice) |
| Blue crab | 2 months within Jun-Sep (notice) |
| Whip octopus | Jun 1 - Jun 30 |
| Broad sea mustard | Sep 1 - Nov 30 |
| Snow crab | Jun 1 - Nov 30 (varies) |
| Pacific cod | Jan 16 - Feb 15 |
| Fleshy prawn | May 1 - Jun 30 |
| Filefish | May 1 - Jul 31 |
| Pollock | Year-round |
| Marbled flounder | Dec 1 - Jan 31 |
| Red snow crab | Jul 10 - Aug 25 |
| Common squid | Apr 1 - May 31 |
| Spanish mackerel | May 1 - May 31 |
| Cockle | Jun 16 - Sep 30 |
| Chum salmon | Oct 1 - Nov 30 |
| Small abalone | Jul 1 - Aug 31 |
| Tilefish | Jul 21 - Aug 20 |
| Agar seaweed | Nov 1 - Mar 31 |
| Abalone | Sep 1 - Oct 31 |
| Gizzard shad | May 1 - Jul 15 (excl. Gangwon/Gyeongbuk) |
| Webfoot octopus | May 11 - Aug 31 |
| Fat greenling | Nov 1 - Dec 31 |
| Common octopus | May 16 - Jun 30 |
| Yellow croaker | Jul 1 - Jul 31 |
| Skate ray | Jun 1 - Jul 15 |
| Geoduck | May 1 - Jun 30 |
| Pen shell | Jul 1 - Aug 31 |
| Hijiki | Oct 1 - Jan 31 |
| Sea cucumber | Jul 1 - Jul 31 |
⚠️ This information is a reference based on Korea's Fishery Resources Management Act (Enforcement Decree, as of 2026-01-01). These rules are revised frequently and have many exceptions by region, fishing method and catch ratio, so actual enforcement may differ. Keeping undersized fish or fishing during a closed season may be subject to penalties, so always verify the latest notices from NIFS / MOF / local authorities. calcstool.com assumes no liability for any legal or financial consequence arising from this information.
FAQ
What is a closed season?
A period when catching a species is banned to protect stocks, usually during spawning. Fishing then is subject to penalties.
Does it change yearly?
Some are fixed, but species like blue crab and mackerel have periods set annually by government notice. Check before you go.
Does it vary by region?
Yes. The same species can have different periods by province and gear. Snow crab, for example, varies across East Sea zones.