Jeju Coast Guard Seizes Chinese Fishing Vessel for Illegal Fishing near Chagwido Sea

Published 02 Sep.2021 14:09(KST)

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] A Chinese fishing vessel suspected of illegal fishing was seized by the coast guard in the waters southwest of Chagwido, Jeju City.

According to the Jeju Maritime Police Station on the 2nd, a Chinese fishing vessel that engaged in illegal fishing without complying with the fishing ban period and mesh size regulations was caught in the exclusive economic zone for violating the Act on the Exercise of Sovereign Rights for Foreign Fisheries.

The Jeju Coast Guard moved a 3,000-ton patrol ship patrolling nearby waters and, at around 6:38 p.m., used a high-speed boat carrying the Maritime Special Operations Unit to stop vessel A and conducted an inspection.

The Chinese fishing vessel departed from Zhoushan Port, China, on the 25th of last month without a crew list and entered the waters 135 km southwest of Chagwido, Jeju City, at 4:54 a.m. the previous day. It was confirmed that the vessel illegally caught 80 kg of fish including yellow croaker by deploying 12 nets with a mesh size of 44mm and hauling them in at 5:16 p.m. The vessel was seized for violating Article 10 of the Exclusive Economic Zone Fisheries Sovereignty Act.

The Chinese fishing vessel currently being escorted by the coast guard is expected to arrive at Jeju Port anchorage around 11 p.m. today.

The Jeju Coast Guard plans to conduct COVID-19 tests on the crew upon arrival and investigate the captain and others regarding the circumstances of the illegal fishing.

A Jeju Coast Guard official said, “This year, a total of two Chinese fishing vessels have been seized for illegal fishing. We will strongly respond to various illegal activities such as unauthorized fishing that may occur due to the increase in foreign vessels fishing in our waters following the lifting of the ban on purse seine fishing by Chinese vessels.”