Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Seizes 2 Illegal Chinese Fishing Vessels in Jeju Waters

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 4th that it has seized two Chinese fishing vessels suspected of violating regulations related to fishing in Korean waters.

On the same day, the Namhae Fisheries Management Unit patrol vessel (Mugunghwa 31) seized the Chinese fishing vessels for using nets with mesh sizes smaller than the standard (approximately 35mm), illegally capturing juvenile fish and other marine products, and falsely reporting the amount of catch loaded when entering the waters.

Chinese fishing vessels entering Korean waters must comply with fishing conditions such as mesh size regulations and accurate recording of catch amounts in fishing logs, according to relevant laws and bilateral agreements. The seized Chinese vessels reported loading 30 tons of catch upon entry, but it was found that they actually loaded a total of 18 tons (approximately 8 tons on the main vessel and 10 tons on the auxiliary vessel). This is a method to underreport the catch amount caught in Korean waters by falsely inflating the reported catch load when entering the waters.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is currently detaining and investigating the seized Chinese vessels at sea to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If it is confirmed that illegal fishing was conducted in Korea's exclusive economic zone, the ministry plans to impose penalties such as fines according to relevant laws.