S. Korea unveils tougher measures to curb illegal Chinese fishing near NLL

Seoul, on August 27th, announced stricter actions against Chinese fishermen transgressing near the inter-Korean sea border in the Yellow Sea. The Korea Coast Guard convened a joint press conference with the foreign, unification, defense, and fisheries ministries to unveil a multi-pronged strategy to curb illegal operations. The government pledged to intensify prosecutions of Chinese vessels near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the semi-official maritime boundary separating the two Koreas.

Four measures were detailed, encompassing heightened enforcement against Chinese fishing vessels, removal of unauthorized gear, bolstered on-site capabilities, and improved collaborative efforts between nations. Key steps include harmonized communication between military and law enforcement, legal amendments penalizing anchoring at sea and goods transportation, and deploying dedicated vessels to dismantle contraband set by Chinese vessels.

An artificial reef will be erected to deter fishing activities. The Korea Coast Guard will form a specialized unit on Baengnyeong Island to combat illicit Chinese operations, augmenting existing units from Yeonpyeong and Daecheong islands. The foreign ministry will urge China to take proactive steps, such as guiding its fishermen and tightening enforcement abroad, while notifying overseas missions about a recent amendment raising fines for unlawful Chinese fishing to 1.5 billion won, effective from May.

The waters south of the NLL are a no-fishing zone, yet Chinese vessels repeatedly breach the NLL to poach in South Korean waters. Illegal Chinese fishing vessels numbered around 200 daily in 2016, but this figure has since dwindled to fewer than 100.