"He's a Crew Member"... Captain Sent to Prosecution for Leading Illegal Fishing by Disguising Anglers During Closed Season

A vessel disguised as fishing during the hairtail fishing ban caught in a crackdown. Provided by Tongyeong Coast Guard Station.

The captain who disguised anglers as crew members and led illegal fishing operations during the closed season, which is enforced to protect and cultivate shellfish resources, has been handed over to the prosecution.

The Tongyeong Maritime Police Station in Gyeongnam announced on the 30th that a man in his 60s, identified as Captain A, has been sent to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Fishing Management and Promotion Act.

Additionally, the city of Tongyeong has been requested to impose an administrative fine of up to 3 million won on a man in his 70s, identified as B, and a man in his 60s, identified as C, who disguised themselves as crew members and caught hairtail during the closed season.

According to the Tongyeong Maritime Police, Captain A is accused of disguising anglers as crew members and leading illegal hairtail fishing operations near the waters of Yokji-myeon, Tongyeong, every year from July 1 to July 31, which is the closed season for hairtail.

On July 6, officers from the Tongyeong Maritime Police, who were conducting an inspection, apprehended Captain A and the anglers on board while they were fishing for hairtail near Galdo. The caught hairtail was seized as evidence.

During the hairtail closed season, only those engaged in coastal jigging or coastal composite fishing are permitted to operate.

Knowing that anglers are not allowed to catch hairtail during the closed season, Captain A attempted to evade inspection by having the anglers sign a "one-day crew employment contract" and submitting it to the port entry and exit reporting agency, disguising them as crew members.

The anglers who were disguised as crew members were found to be residents of other regions, with occupations unrelated to fishing such as agriculture and poultry farming, and had come to Tongyeong for recreational fishing.

Park Hyeonyong, Chief of the Tongyeong Maritime Police, stated, "Indiscriminate fishing during the closed season depletes our marine fishery resources," and added, "We will strictly crack down on and investigate illegal fishing operations to restore order in fishing practices and protect both the livelihoods of fishermen and our fishery resources."