Chinese Fishing Boats Appearing in the West Sea NLL Area During Spring Spawning Season... Coast Guard Strengthens Crackdown

Average of Over 100 Illegal Fishing Vessels per Day
Joint Crackdown with Navy and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Until the 31st

As the spring snow crab season (April to June) approaches, foreign fishing vessels have been rampantly engaging in illegal fishing in the West Sea, prompting maritime authorities to launch a large-scale crackdown.

On the morning of the 25th, the Korea Coast Guard announced that starting with a joint exercise with the Navy and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, a special crackdown will be conducted for about a week until the 31st across the entire West Sea, including the border waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

According to the Coast Guard, as of the end of this month, the number of Chinese fishing vessels illegally fishing near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea averages about 100 vessels per day.

These Chinese vessels engage in illegal fishing by crossing the designated prohibited zones of the West Sea NLL during late-night hours or adverse weather conditions. They also install obstacles such as supports or wires to prevent enforcement teams from boarding and evade pursuit.

The Coast Guard is conducting joint training with the Navy and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on the morning of the 25th near Socheongdo Island in the waters close to the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea, ahead of cracking down on illegal fishing by Chinese vessels.
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

In response, the Coast Guard is operating two 'Mobile Task Forces' composed of four large patrol ships and aircraft. Task Force A operates in the border waters of the West Sea, cracking down on foreign vessels moving southward from north of the NLL, while Task Force B focuses on trawlers and purse seiners entering permitted waters at night or during bad weather near the West Sea EEZ.

During the special crackdown period, a total of 14 Coast Guard vessels, 3 aircraft, 12 naval ships, and 3 Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries fishery patrol vessels will be mobilized. The Coast Guard plans to take measures such as seizure of vessels and imposing maximum fines if serious violations such as unauthorized fishing or obstruction of official duties are confirmed.

As illegal fishing vessels have become more sophisticated in evading enforcement, the Coast Guard recognizes the limitations of using small boats (patrol boats) for crackdowns and is promoting the introduction of dedicated enforcement vessels that can directly moor to fishing vessels and are less affected by weather conditions.

Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, said, "We will mobilize all available patrol vessels from regional offices nationwide, except for the East Sea office, to operate a large-scale dedicated mobile task force," adding, "We will respond strictly to illegal fishing activities that devastate fishery resources by sweeping even juvenile fish in our waters."

Crew members of Chinese fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea are resisting coast guard officers conducting enforcement by wielding weapons such as metal pipes and hooks.
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

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