Coast Guard Officer Injured During Crackdown on Illegal Chinese Fishing Vessels: "Strict Punishment Planned"

Mokpo Coast Guard Seizes Two Vessels in Joint Sea and Air Operation
Some Crew Members Resist with Weapons During Boarding

On the afternoon of the 24th, around 7 p.m., the Coast Guard was boarding two Chinese-flagged fishing vessels engaged in illegal large-scale gillnet fishing in our waters. Photo provided by Mokpo Coast Guard

The Coast Guard has seized Chinese fishing vessels engaged in unauthorized illegal fishing activities using large-scale nets in the Republic of Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone. Some of our Coast Guard officers were injured due to resistance from the crew during the enforcement operation.

The Mokpo Coast Guard announced on the 25th that it had seized two Chinese-flagged large-scale net fishing vessels on charges including violations of the Economic Zone Fisheries Sovereignty Act.

Fishing vessels A (with 15 crew members) and B (with 13 crew members) are suspected of illegally catching fish (including 200 kg of miscellaneous fish such as monkfish and 1 ton, respectively) using large-scale nets at around 7 p.m. on the 24th, approximately 103 km southwest of Gageodo, Shinan County, South Jeolla Province (about 5.5 km inside the eastern boundary of the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone). Large-scale nets are strictly prohibited because their small mesh size captures even juvenile fish.

During the apprehension, some crew members violently resisted by wielding weapons in an attempt to evade enforcement, resulting in a police officer who had boarded the vessel falling onto the Coast Guard’s high-speed boat and sustaining injuries before being transported to land.

The Coast Guard explained that this operation was not a matter of chance but the result of a pre-planned joint sea and air operation aimed at eradicating illegal large-scale net fishing.

In fact, to apprehend illegal large-scale net fishing operations that take advantage of the night to conduct guerrilla-style fishing in domestic waters, the Coast Guard simultaneously deployed aircraft and patrol vessels. The aircraft recorded the moment the nets were hauled in, while the patrol vessel, which was standing by nearby, moved at full speed to deploy a boarding team and carry out the boarding operation.

The Mokpo Coast Guard transported the seized vessels to its dedicated pier.

The Coast Guard plans to conduct a thorough investigation not only into the illegal fishing activities but also to apply additional charges of obstruction of official duties with special circumstances, as some crew members of vessel A wielded weapons and violently resisted officers during the enforcement process, and to impose strict penalties.

Chae Sujun, Chief of the Mokpo Coast Guard, stated, "Although we were able to detect the illegal fishing operation through a meticulously planned, multi-faceted operation, dangerous situations such as resistance with weapons occurred during the enforcement, and one of our officers was injured while boarding a fleeing Chinese vessel amid rough, high waves. We will relentlessly pursue and respond sternly to any illegal acts that infringe on maritime sovereignty and challenge public authority."

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