Central Coast Guard seizes illegal Chinese fishing boat near NLL in West Sea

The Central Regional Coast Guard announced on the 12th that it had arrested a 70-ton Chinese fishing vessel A on suspicion of illegal fishing in the waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea.

Boat A is suspected of violating the NLL and illegally fishing in the waters off Daecheong Island, Ongjin-gun, Incheon, at around 11:30 p.m. on the 10th.

The Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Navy, deployed 20 ships on the 10th to 11th to capture Ship A 0.4km east of Daecheong Island and evict 91 ships.

There were 10 crew members on board A, a wooden boat, and catches such as crabs and conches were also found.

The Coast Guard has launched an intensive crackdown on illegal Chinese fishing boats this year and has seized 13 vessels so far. This figure is more than twice the number of six ships in the same period last year.

Additionally, the Coast Guard explained that the number of illegal Chinese fishing boats, which numbered about 200, had decreased to about 150 as of the 10th.

The Coast Guard is conducting special crackdowns in the waters near the NLL in the West Sea to celebrate the fall adult fishing season.

A head of a fishing village in Daecheong Island said, "Recently, we have suffered a lot of loss of fishing gear due to Chinese fishing boats, and we are anxious every time we go fishing, but (with this crackdown), we can now engage in our livelihood with peace of mind."

Park Jae-hwa, head of the Central Coast Guard, said, "We will continue to strengthen the crackdown on illegal Chinese fishing boats and do our best to protect maritime sovereignty to protect the safety of our fishermen and fish resources."