S. Korea unveils tougher measures to curb illegal Chinese fishing near NLL
South Korea's government said Thursday it will step up crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels illegally operating in waters near the inter-Korean sea border in the West 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…
South Korea announced on Thursday a series of stricter measures to combat illegal Chinese fishing activities in waters surrounding the inter-Korean sea border, known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL). At a joint press conference in Seoul attended by representatives from the Korea Coast Guard and multiple government ministries, the government detailed its comprehensive strategy to address this issue.
The government outlined four key measures to tackle the problem. Firstly, there will be an intensified focus on enforcing regulations against Chinese fishing vessels operating near the NLL. Secondly, illegal fishing equipment will be forcibly removed from the waters. Thirdly, the government aims to bolster its on-site enforcement capabilities to better monitor and control the situation.
Lastly, there will be an enhancement of cooperative efforts between enforcement agencies and diplomatic partners to address the issue more effectively.
To achieve these objectives, the government plans to streamline communication channels between military and law enforcement bodies, allowing for a more coordinated response to illegal fishing activities. Additionally, amendments to existing laws will be introduced to impose stricter penalties for acts such as anchoring at sea and supplying goods through illicit means.
The fisheries ministry is also tasked with deploying specialized vessels specifically designed to remove traps and other forms of illegal fishing gear from the waters.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
