Charges Include Unauthorized Fishing and Failure to Comply with Stop Orders
Two unauthorized Chinese fishing vessels engaged in fishing activities within the Republic of Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have been seized by the Coast Guard.
The Mokpo Coast Guard announced that at approximately 1:00 p.m. on December 18, it seized two Chinese fishing vessels-mother ship A (302 tons, trawl net) and tender ship B-on charges of operating without a permit and failing to comply with lawful stop orders from the Coast Guard. The vessels were intercepted about 78 kilometers northwest of Gageodo, Sinan County, South Jeolla Province.
During the seizure, it was confirmed that both vessel A and vessel B attempted to evade the Coast Guard's stop orders and escape, having installed iron spikes and fences to obstruct boarding. However, after a persistent pursuit by the Mokpo Coast Guard 3015 search team, the Coast Guard successfully boarded and seized the vessels.
According to the Korea-China Fisheries Agreement, all Chinese vessels operating within the Republic of Korea's EEZ must obtain permits from the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.
However, the seized Chinese vessels had not obtained the required permits and, starting around 8:00 p.m. on December 17, conducted fishing operations by casting nets and towing them together with the tender ship approximately 37 kilometers northwest of Hongdo, Sinan County, within the Republic of Korea's EEZ. They caught about 2,000 kilograms of miscellaneous fish, including sardines.
The Coast Guard is currently escorting both vessels to the Mokpo Coast Guard’s exclusive pier and investigating them for unauthorized fishing activities and failure to comply with stop orders under the Economic Zone Fisheries Sovereignty Act.
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