Seven South Korean fishermen who died during pelagic fishing some four decades ago were repatriated to their relatives on Wednesday for reburial, the maritime ministry here said.

The late fishermen had been buried in graveyards in Spain after years of ocean fishing in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has carried out a project to find the remains of the fishermen since 2002 as part of its efforts to commemorate their contribution to South Korea's economic development.

South Korean officials carry the remains of fishermen, which were buried in Spain decades ago, on Nov. 1, 2015.(Yonhap)