Mokpo Coast Guard Seizes Chinese Fishing Vessel for Inadequate Fishing Log Entries

Four Vessels Seized This Year
Security Deposits Totaling 150 Million Won Imposed

The Mokpo Coast Guard Station (Chief Chae Sujun) announced on April 25 that at approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 24, it seized a 98-ton Chinese fishing vessel, Vessel A (pair trawler), on suspicion of inadequately recording its fishing log, 51 kilometers southwest of Gageodo, Sinan County, Jeollanam-do.

The Mokpo Coast Guard detected the violation during intensive inspection and search of five Chinese fishing vessels, including Vessel A, which were seized the previous day.

Mokpo Coast Guard is boarding a Chinese fishing vessel for inspection. Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard Station

Vessel A is suspected of having inadequately recorded in its fishing log a total of 5,722 kilograms of hairtail and miscellaneous fish over 28 occasions, after operating in the Republic of Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone from February 21 to April 24.

Chinese fishing vessels permitted to operate in the Republic of Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone are required to faithfully complete their fishing logs daily in accordance with the operational conditions and entry procedures agreed upon by both Korea and China.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. on the same day, the Mokpo Coast Guard corrected the fishing log of Vessel A, which had been found in violation, collected a security deposit of 30 million won, and released the vessel. Since the beginning of this year, the Mokpo Coast Guard has seized a total of four Chinese fishing vessels and imposed security deposits totaling 150 million won.