22 Caught Onboard in Gunsan Offshore... Joint Crackdown on Illegal Spring Fishing Continues
The Chief of the West Sea Regional Coast Guard Agency (Chief Kim Inchang) cracked down on a fishing vessel conducting illegal fishing operations in the open sea beyond our territorial waters, mobilizing patrol ships and aircraft amid the spring fishing season when many fishing boats are heading out to sea.
According to the West Sea Coast Guard Agency, fishing vessel A, based at a port in Boryeong, Chungnam, was caught on the 6th for illegal fishing operations with 22 crew members on board about 30 km from the mainland, in the waters 3 nautical miles outside Gunsan's territorial waters.
A fishing vessel conducting illegal fishing operations in the distant sea beyond our territorial waters was caught using patrol ships and aircraft. [Photo by Seohae Regional Coast Guard Chief]
It was found that the vessel had turned off its location transmitter and reached outside the maritime border of our waters at full speed to conduct fishing operations.
The Muan Aviation Unit of the West Sea Coast Guard has been conducting regular aerial patrols and detected suspicious points on the routes of some fishing vessels, maintaining intensive surveillance activities. On this day, they confirmed that this vessel was illegally fishing outside the territorial waters and proceeded with the crackdown.
The aviation unit secured footage of the illegal fishing operations through radar and infrared thermal cameras installed on the patrol aircraft, and then contacted the coast guard vessels conducting patrols at sea to carry out an on-site crackdown.
A West Sea Coast Guard official stated, “The West Sea Agency conducts targeted aerial patrols by analyzing various information at sea to expand the scope of aerial missions. Using aircraft contributes to cracking down on illegal fishing and marine safety offenders, as well as preventing red tides and marine pollution.”
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