Mokpo Coast Guard Seizes Unauthorized Illegal Fishing Chinese Vessel After Persistent Pursuit

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] A Chinese fishing vessel illegally operating without permission in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was seized by the Coast Guard.

According to Mokpo Coast Guard on the 27th, at 7:37 a.m. on the 26th, a Chinese fishing vessel A (60 tons, single trawl net, 6 crew members) was seized 124 km southwest of Gageodo, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, for illegal fishing without permission.

On that day, upon discovering vessel A's illegal fishing activities, the Coast Guard approached the vessel and ordered it to stop, but the order was ignored. The vessel cut the fishing gear hanging on the stern and attempted to escape, prompting the immediate deployment of the Maritime Special Task Force, which captured the vessel after a persistent chase.

The Mokpo Coast Guard escorted the seized vessel A to the Mokpo exclusive pier on the morning of the 27th, and after COVID-19 testing and quarantine measures, plans to conduct further investigation into the captain and others on charges of illegal fishing without permission.

A Mokpo Coast Guard official stated, “We will do our best to protect maritime sovereignty and ensure the safe fishing operations of our fishermen through strong crackdowns on illegal fishing.”

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