Illegal Clam-Harvesting Vessels Caught by Changwon Maritime Police... Seven Seized as of February

A vessel that was illegally harvesting clams at sea was caught in a surprise inspection by the maritime police.

Illegally harvested clams are spilling from the net of a vessel that fished in an unauthorized area. Provided by Changwon Coast Guard

The Changwon Maritime Police Station in South Gyeongsang Province announced that on the 25th, it had apprehended three additional illegal clam-harvesting vessels in the waters near Hapgye Village in Jinhae-gu.

As illegal clam-harvesting operations have recently become rampant in its jurisdictional waters, the Changwon Maritime Police Station has been cracking down on clam-harvesting vessels since the 10th, and as of February, has apprehended a total of seven vessels on charges of violating the Aquaculture Industry Development Act.

For the crackdown, the Changwon Maritime Police Station deployed its criminal mobile squad boat, patrol vessels, coastal rescue boats from police substations, as well as investigation and criminal officers, and is focusing on violations such as operating set nets outside designated fishing zones, operating set nets without a license, and fishing operations that encroach on other people’s fishing grounds.

An official from the Changwon Maritime Police Station said, “We will continue strong enforcement activities until illegal clam-harvesting operations are eradicated to establish order in the fishing industry,” adding, “We ask for the attention of maritime workers and related industries, and for their compliance with the law.”