Illegal Snow Crab Fishing Rampant in Uljin-gun Coastal Waters... First Fishing Vessel Caught After 'Crackdown Shift'

The photo shows snow crabs waiting for new owners at the Guryongpo Fisheries Cooperative auction site in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, on the morning of November 2 last year. These snow crabs were caught for the first time after the snow crab fishing ban, which lasted until the end of October, ended and were brought to the auction site. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] With the snow crab season underway, indiscriminate illegal harvesting is rampant in the waters off Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk Province.

According to Uljin-gun on the 14th, there has been a significant increase in the harvesting of snow crabs under 9 cm in carapace length, which is strictly prohibited under the Fisheries Resources Management Act. Accordingly, Uljin-gun has shifted from focusing on guidance and publicity regarding illegal fishing to enforcement this year.

On the 13th, one gillnet fishing vessel was caught on site for the first time since the enforcement shift. Harvesting snow crabs over 9 cm can result in imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

Oh Seong-gyu, Director of the Marine Fisheries Division, stated, "To protect Uljin snow crabs, a major local seafood specialty, and to eradicate illegal fishing, we plan to conduct intensive special crackdowns on illegal snow crab harvesting and distribution offenses until the end of May."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.