South Korea Tightens Crackdown on Chinese Fishing Near NLL
South Korea announced new measures to curb illegal Chinese fishing near the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea.
South Korea's government announced Thursday new measures to crack down on illegal Chinese fishing vessels operating near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea.
The Korea Coast Guard held a joint press briefing in Seoul with the foreign, unification, defense and fisheries ministries to announce the government's comprehensive measures to counter foreign vessels illegally operating near the NLL, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.
They said the government will implement four countermeasures, including intensifying crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels operating near the NLL, forcibly removing illegal fishing gear, strengthening on-site enforcement capabilities and enhancing cooperative enforcement and diplomatic cooperation.
The fisheries ministry plans to deploy dedicated vessels to forcibly remove traps and other illegal fishing gear installed by Chinese fishing vessels in waters near the NLL, while installing 34 additional artificial structures to prevent fishing operations in the area.
The Korea Coast Guard will establish a new special enforcement unit on Baengnyeong Island to crack down on illegal Chinese fishing operations, in addition to existing enforcement units based on Yeonpyeong and Daecheong islands.
The foreign ministry plans to urge the Chinese government to take active measures, such as guiding its fishermen and stepping up crackdowns on illegal fishing, while informing them through overseas diplomatic missions about an amendment to South Korean law that raised the maximum fine for illegal Chinese fishing operations from 300 million won (US$217,500) to 1.5 billion won starting in May.
The unification ministry handling inter-Korean affairs said it will continue efforts to establish effective and long-term measures to secure lasting peace and a stable maritime order in the Yellow Sea, such as building a peace zone.
As the autumn crab fishing season begins next month, the government plans to bolster interagency crackdowns on illegal foreign fishing vessels near the NLL under the new framework, officials said.
The waters south of the NLL are designated as a special exclusion zone where foreign fishing vessels are prohibited from operating, but Chinese fishing boats frequently exploit the division of the Korean Peninsula by crossing the NLL from the north to engage in illegal fishing in South Korean waters.
The number of Chinese fishing vessels illegally operating in waters near the NLL had averaged about 200 per day in 2016, but has since decreased to fewer than 100.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
Four Countermeasures Announced
South Korea will implement four countermeasures to address illegal fishing near the NLL:
Legal and Diplomatic Actions
The government will amend relevant laws to punish acts of anchoring at sea and supplying goods, increasing the maximum fine for illegal Chinese fishing operations from 300 million won to 1.5 billion won starting in May.
The foreign ministry plans to urge the Chinese government to guide its fishermen and intensify its own crackdowns on illegal fishing, while informing Chinese authorities through diplomatic channels about the amended South Korean law.
Seasonal Enforcement and Maritime Order
With the autumn crab fishing season beginning next month, authorities will strengthen interagency crackdowns on illegal foreign fishing vessels near the NLL under the new framework.
The unification ministry stated it will continue efforts to establish effective, long-term measures for lasting peace and a stable maritime order in the Yellow Sea, including building a peace zone.
Historical Context of Violations
Chinese fishing vessels have frequently crossed the NLL from the north to conduct illegal fishing in South Korean waters, despite the area being designated as a special exclusion zone where foreign vessels are prohibited.
The number of such vessels averaged about 200 per day in 2016 but has since decreased to fewer than 100.
Enforcement Expansion
The Korea Coast Guard will establish a new special enforcement unit on Baengnyeong Island, complementing existing units on Yeonpyeong and Daecheong islands, to enhance on-site enforcement capabilities.
The fisheries ministry will deploy dedicated vessels to forcibly remove illegal fishing gear and install 34 additional artificial structures to deter fishing operations in the NLL area.
