South Korean Maritime Police launches strong crackdown against illegal fishing operations by foreign fishing vessels on the western side of the Korean Peninsula

South Korea's Maritime Police Agency announced on December 31 that it has conducted a year-long crackdown on illegal fishing operations by foreign fishing vessels on the western side of the Korean Peninsula. Especially the new model
This is in response to a sharp increase in the number of Chinese vessels appearing in the Northern Limit Line (NLL) waters of the Yellow Sea and in South Korea's exclusive economic zone after fishing restrictions in China were lifted due to the coronavirus.
According to the agency, the average number of Chinese vessels appearing in NLL waters per day will increase to 100 vessels in 2023 (as of November 30) compared to five years ago (30 vessels in 2018), an increase of more than 300%.
The rate was recorded. A similar increasing trend was observed in South Korea's exclusive economic zone. Under these circumstances, the agency deployed patrol vessels throughout the Seinan Sea area and deployed a mobile squadron made up of large vessels.
A special pre-emptive crackdown was carried out. In addition, we will cooperate with related organizations such as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Navy to increase information sharing and joint patrols, and establish a system to prevent illegal fishing by foreign fishing vessels.
Reinforced. As a result, as of the end of November last year, the agency had intercepted more than 50% more Chinese vessels than the previous year. This is a crackdown that prioritized expulsion in consideration of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
This appears to have been due to a change in policy, with emphasis on the people's livelihood and the protection of marine rights and interests, and stronger enforcement of detection and punishment. The head of the Japan Coast Guard said, ``We will continue to take action against foreign fishing vessels that engage in illegal activities in Korean waters.
"We will mobilize all available security forces to strictly crack down on them, impose stricter punishments to protect our maritime territory, and do our best to protect fishermen."