Gyeonggi-do Joint Crackdown on Illegal Marine and Inland Water Fishing Activities

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching a joint crackdown on illegal fishing activities in marine and inland waters.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that, in order to protect fishery resources during the spring spawning season, it will conduct an intensive crackdown on illegal fishing activities in marine and inland waters until the 10th of next month, in cooperation with the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police, city and county authorities, and the Coast Guard.

For marine enforcement, the province will deploy three vessels including fishery patrol boats to crack down on unauthorized fishing operations (including vessels from other cities and provinces), illegal capture of glass eels, catching juvenile fish, and the use or storage of illegal fishing gear.

Particularly, special investigations will focus on activities such as setting glass eel fyke nets for fishing and collecting fish using dip nets from the shore to sell to fish dealers.

In addition, for inland water enforcement centered on major rivers and streams in the province such as the Namhan River, Bukhan River, Imjin River, Tando Lake, and Namyang Lake, two specialized patrol boats will be deployed to crack down on unauthorized fishing activities, violations of prohibited periods and size limits for capturing and harvesting aquatic resources, possession or sale of illegally caught fish, use of motorized boats, and other acts that disrupt fishery order and regulations.

The province will also investigate the use of harmful fishing gear such as batteries, harvesting of juvenile freshwater snails smaller than 1.5 cm, and violations of the prohibited periods and size limits for catching Korean perch (Sogari).

Furthermore, inspections will be conducted on illegal consignment sales and transportation of illegally caught fish at agricultural wholesale markets, seafood direct sales centers, and traditional markets.

The province stated that illegal fishing activities detected during this joint crackdown will be subject to judicial processing according to relevant laws, and administrative measures such as cancellation of fishing permits and suspension of fishing operations will be enforced without exception.

A provincial official said, "May is a critical time when many shellfish and fish spawn, making intensive crackdowns on illegal fishing necessary," and added, "We will do our best to establish a sound fishery order in Gyeonggi Province through focused joint enforcement."

Last year, the province conducted intensive crackdowns on illegal fishing in Siwha Lake, coastal waters within the province, and rivers and streams, detecting a total of 44 cases including unauthorized fishing, and took strong measures such as judicial processing, administrative sanctions, and fines.

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