Coast Guard Patrol Vessel to Monitor and Crack Down on Illegal Fishing in the North Pacific

The Korea Coast Guard announced on July 9 that it plans to dispatch a 3,000-ton class patrol vessel from the Donghae Coast Guard to the high seas of the North Pacific Ocean to participate in an international joint crackdown on illegal fishing operations.

To this end, the 3018 vessel of the Donghae Coast Guard will depart from Donghae on July 10 and is scheduled to return on July 30.

The Coast Guard will designate intensive surveillance zones where domestic and foreign distant-water fishing vessels operate by analyzing vessel position signals and satellite images using the Maritime Domain Awareness (K-MDA) system. Starting July 14, on-site boarding inspections will be conducted to verify compliance with the conservation and management measures of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC).

Coast Guard patrol vessels are conducting onboard inspections of ships fishing in the high seas of the North Pacific Ocean. Photo by the Korea Coast Guard

Last year, from July 21 to August 6, the Coast Guard inspected five vessels in the North Pacific Ocean, detected 11 violations, and notified the fisheries authorities of the respective countries.

This year, for the first time, a US Coast Guard (USCG) officer will join the patrol vessel through the 'KCG Shiprider' program to participate in joint navigation and illegal fishing surveillance missions. To facilitate this, the vessel will call at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to receive logistical supplies such as fuel and hold working-level consultations with the USCG.

Jang Insik, Acting Commissioner General of the Korea Coast Guard, stated, "This North Pacific patrol is more than just law enforcement; it is a valuable journey to ensure the sustainability of the ocean and expand our national interests," adding, "We will continue to enhance the offshore operational capabilities of our patrol vessels and fulfill our responsibilities as a member of the international community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.