Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Illegal Inland Water Fishing Activities

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[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is cracking down on illegal fishing activities in major rivers, streams, and lakes within the province.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police announced that from the 25th of this month until the 27th of next month, they will conduct intensive investigations into illegal fishing activities in major rivers, streams, and lakes across the province to protect inland water fishery resources and establish fishing order.

The investigations will be conducted during times when illegal activities mainly occur in inland waters, such as weekend nights and early mornings.

The targets of the investigation include ▲ unlicensed or unauthorized fishing activities ▲ capture or harvesting activities that violate prohibited periods, areas, or size limits ▲ capture or harvesting using explosives, toxic substances, or electric currents (batteries) without permission for harmful fishing methods ▲ possession, distribution, processing, storage, or sale of illegally caught fish ▲ use of fishing gear that blocks fish migration routes without opening part of the river as a passage for fish migration.

The special judicial police will remove illegal fishing gear and abandoned nets found during the investigation.

Under the current 'Inland Water Fisheries Act,' using harmful fishing methods for capture or harvesting is punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million KRW, while unauthorized fishing activities or possession or sale of illegal catches are punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million KRW.

Kim Min-kyung, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police, emphasized, "Spring, when water temperatures rise, is the spawning season for inland water fish and shellfish, making it necessary to thoroughly crack down on illegal fishing activities to protect fishery resources. We plan to strongly promote the eradication of illegal activities in cooperation with related departments and city and county governments to prevent illegal activities in inland waters in advance and establish fishing order."

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