Chinese Vessels Engaged in Illegal Fishing Near NLL Face Crackdown on Anchoring and Mooring... Enhanced Deployment of Special Coast Guard Units

Government Announces Comprehensive Measures for Strong Action Against Illegal Fishing
Removal of Illegal Fishing Gear and Installation of Artificial Structures
Enhanced Joint Crackdowns and Diplomatic Cooperation with China

The government is taking strong measures to eradicate illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in the waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea. Measures include cracking down on illegal maritime anchoring and supply deliveries, as well as bolstering the deployment of special Coast Guard units.

On August 27, the Korea Coast Guard held a joint briefing at the Government Complex Seoul with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to announce a comprehensive government plan under the theme of “Response Measures to Illegal Fishing by Foreign Vessels near the NLL in the West Sea.”

The government plans to implement four main measures: ▲Tightening the crackdown on Chinese fishing vessels near the NLL ▲Forcibly removing illegal fishing gear and installing artificial structures ▲Strengthening on-site enforcement capacity ▲Enhancing joint operations and diplomatic cooperation.

First, to strengthen enforcement against Chinese fishing vessels in the NLL waters, the government will simplify the information-sharing processes between the military and the police. It also plans to amend relevant laws so that maritime anchoring and the provision of supplies can be subject to punishment.

Currently, only illegal fishing activities in NLL waters can be punished, but with revisions to the Enforcement Decree of the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Act, activities such as mooring or anchoring in territorial waters, or supplying equipment and goods for fishing, will also be included as targets for enforcement.

Additionally, the government plans to promptly dismantle illegal fishing gear and install artificial structures to fundamentally deter illegal fishing activities.

Starting next month, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will operate a dedicated removal vessel to forcibly demolish illegal fishing gear such as fish traps installed by Chinese vessels in the NLL area, and will also install additional artificial structures in waters frequently visited by Chinese boats to prevent fishing operations.

The enforcement capacity of the Special Security Unit for the Five Islands in the West Sea will also be significantly strengthened. This unit, established in 2017, specializes in cracking down on illegal foreign fishing vessels in the NLL area. The Korea Coast Guard plans to allocate two new special rapid deployment vessels to the unit and create a new special counterterrorism unit in Baengnyeong Island, following those in Yeonpyeong and Daecheong Islands, expanding both equipment and personnel for enforcement.

Crew members of Chinese fishing vessels are resisting against the Coast Guard who are cracking down on illegal fishing operations. Photo by Korea Coast Guard

The government has also decided to enhance joint enforcement actions and diplomatic cooperation with China.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will urge the Chinese government to reinforce education for its fishermen and step up the crackdown on illegal fishing. Through overseas diplomatic missions, the ministry will actively publicize revisions to domestic law—under which the maximum fine for illegal fishing was raised from 300 million won to 1.5 billion won this past May—as well as recent enforcement cases.

Over the long term, the Ministry of Unification will continue to pursue practical cooperation plans, such as the creation of a peace zone, to establish peace and stable fishing order in the West Sea.

Starting next month, when the autumn blue crab season begins, the government will intensify joint crackdowns on illegal foreign fishing vessels in NLL waters under the new response plan, working in close cooperation with relevant agencies.

Jang In-sik, acting Commissioner General of the Korea Coast Guard, stated, "The area around the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea is a critical maritime zone for defending the security and sovereignty of the Republic of Korea," adding, "We will respond firmly to the illegal activities of foreign fishing vessels to protect the lives and safety of our people and the livelihoods of our fishermen."

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