Mokpo Coast Guard Seizes Chinese Fishing Vessel for Illegal Fishing with Net Size Violation

Mokpo Coast Guard is inspecting Chinese fishing vessel A, which conducted illegal fishing using a net denser than regulations allow. ⓒ Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] A Chinese fishing vessel was seized by the Coast Guard for fishing with nets denser than regulations and failing to record the catch amount in the fishing log within South Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

According to Mokpo Coast Guard on the 16th, at 11:25 p.m. on the 15th, Chinese fishing vessel A (149t, purse seine, 18 crew members) was seized for violating mesh size regulations and inadequate fishing log entries in the waters 90 km southwest of Gageodo, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do.

The Coast Guard confirmed that vessel A used nets with a mesh size of 41mm, which is smaller than the regulation of 50mm, illegally catching 1,320 kg of fish including croaker.

Additionally, it was found that about 6.5 tons of catch caught outside the EEZ were not recorded in the fishing log.

The Coast Guard plans to transfer the captain and crew of the seized vessel A to the exclusive pier in Mokpo for COVID-19 testing and quarantine measures, followed by further investigation into the violation charges.

Meanwhile, the Mokpo Maritime Police Station has seized 18 foreign fishing vessels this year for unauthorized and illegal fishing, making every effort to protect South Korea's maritime sovereignty.

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