Korea-China Joint Patrol in West Sea Provisional Measures Zone to Crack Down on Illegal Fishing

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 20th that, in response to the fishing season, South Korean and Chinese patrol vessels will conduct joint patrols in the South Korea-China Provisional Measure Zone in the West Sea for five days from the 21st to the 25th.

The joint patrol will involve the Mugunghwa 36 (2,000-ton class) from the West Sea Fisheries Management Unit of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the 6306 vessel (3,000-ton class) from the Beihai Branch of the Chinese Coast Guard.

The two vessels will meet at the northern boundary of the South Korea-China Provisional Measure Zone on the 21st and conduct joint patrols southward within the zone until the 25th, cracking down on illegal fishing vessels from their respective countries and notifying the other side of the enforcement results.

Recently, as the fishing season began, cases of Chinese fishing vessels collectively intruding into South Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have occurred, prompting the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to urge the Chinese side to make efforts to eradicate illegal fishing.

The South Korea-China Provisional Measure Zone was established in the West Sea under the Korea-China Fisheries Agreement, which came into effect in June 2001. Due to differing opinions on the EEZ boundaries between South Korea and China, negotiations have continued for 21 years. Both sides agreed to designate the disputed area, which each claims as its own EEZ, as a provisional measure zone and have conducted joint patrols annually since 2014.