Coast Guard to Strengthen Crackdown on Illegal Chinese Fishing Vessels in West Sea NLL During Autumn Peak Season

The Korea Coast Guard is strengthening its crackdown on illegal fishing by foreign vessels in the Northern Limit Line (NLL) waters of the West Sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in response to the peak autumn fishing season.

The Coast Guard will deploy a total of six vessels near the West Sea NLL, including one large patrol ship (1,000 to 3,000 tons), three 500-ton patrol ships, and two special operations boats, maintaining a 24-hour enforcement system.

Additionally, the Coast Guard plans to soon deploy an extra special response team to Yeonpyeongdo, Incheon, and is considering reinforcing patrol ship deployment if the daily number of Chinese fishing vessels in the area exceeds 150.

In particular, to counter increasingly sophisticated illegal fishing tactics-such as sealing off wheelhouses or using small high-speed boats-the Coast Guard will hold the "Illegal Foreign Fishing Vessel Interdiction Capability Competition" on September 24-25 to further advance its enforcement strategies.

The West Sea 5 Islands Special Security Unit seized a Chinese fishing vessel engaged in illegal fishing in the southwestern waters of Socheongdo, Ongjin County, Incheon, on March 20. Korea Coast Guard

Furthermore, for vessels committing serious violations such as unauthorized fishing, territorial water intrusion, or obstruction of official duties, the Coast Guard plans to enforce the law even more strictly by imposing the maximum amount of security deposits and confiscating vessels.

In this regard, the Coast Guard will notify the Chinese government of the current state of illegal fishing and strongly urge self-regulation through diplomatic channels, including the upcoming fisheries meeting with China and the regular meeting of Korea-China maritime law enforcement agency heads scheduled for this month.

Although fishing by foreign vessels is strictly prohibited in the West Sea NLL waters, where blue crab fishing recently resumed, up to 140 Chinese fishing vessels were observed by the Coast Guard as of the previous day. In the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 62% (711 vessels) of the 1,150 Chinese fishing vessels authorized to operate are trawlers, and with their fishing season starting on October 16, illegal activities are expected to increase.

Kim Yongjin, Commissioner General of the Korea Coast Guard, stated, "We will respond strictly in accordance with the law and principles to illegal fishing by foreign vessels, which depletes marine resources and threatens food security."

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