Gyeonggi-do to Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Illegal Fishing and Marine Dumping Until the End of This Month

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will conduct intensive crackdowns on illegal activities at beaches, ports, illegal fishing, and illegal marine waste dumping within the province until the end of this month.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 10th, the province will crack down on illegal activities at three beaches?Hwaseong Jebudo, Gungpyeong-ri, and Ansan Bangameori?until the end of this month. The crackdown targets unauthorized parasol operations where parasols are planted and occupancy fees are charged, illegal street vending, and excessive solicitation. Last month, the province conducted a total of 72 on-site inspections and cracked down on 4 cases.

The province is also promoting the removal of illegal facilities at four major ports and harbors: Hwaseong Gungpyeong and Jeongok Ports, Ansan Tando Port, Gimpo Daemyeong Port, and Siheung Oido Port.

Gyeonggi Province has completed the removal of 43 containers at Siheung Oido Port, which had been illegally occupied for fishing gear storage for over 20 years. Seventy-six tents are also scheduled to be removed within this month. Additionally, unauthorized restaurants at Ansan Buldo Port will be encouraged to voluntarily dismantle by next year, and if they refuse, administrative enforcement will be pursued. Ports cleared of illegal facilities will be renovated through projects such as the Fishing Village New Deal Project and Local Fishing Port Development Project.

The province will also focus on cracking down on illegal fishing, including the capture of juvenile fish. To this end, inspections will be conducted on all 980 fishing vessels, including 549 registered vessels in Hwaseong, to check for violations such as fishing outside designated zones. Furthermore, on land, activities such as storing illegal fishing gear or keeping and selling illegally caught fish will also be monitored.

To monitor illegal fishing, the province operates 30 private fishery resource protection monitors and 50 fishing environment guardians.

Kim Choong-beom, Director of the Agricultural and Marine Affairs Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We will intensify joint crackdowns with Gyeonggi special investigators, city and county governments, and the Coast Guard until the end of August to eradicate illegal activities," adding, "Instead of just strengthening crackdowns, we plan to actively support convenience facilities for the revitalization of the Gyeonggi Sea, such as restrooms, foot-washing stations, and garbage collection points for tourists and local residents."

Earlier, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung posted a message titled "Now It’s the Sea" on his social media in June, promising, "Following the valleys, we will return the sea to the residents of the province."