Gyeonggi Province Intensifies Crackdowns on Illegal Fishing in Fall Season...Targeting 1,883 Fishing Vessels in Province

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will conduct joint provincial-municipal and county-level crackdowns on illegal fishing in marine and inland waters throughout October to protect shellfish during the fall growth season.

The crackdown targets 1,883 fishing vessels in the province, with participation from Gyeonggi Province and 13 cities and counties including Hwaseong, Ansan, Gimpo, Siheung, and Pyeongtaek.

Target areas include 12 harbors and ports such as Oido Port in Siheung for coastal and offshore waters, and surrounding waters of Gukhwa Island, Ippa Island, Daebu Island, Pungdo Island, and Yukdo Island. For inland waters, all major rivers in the province are included, including the Imjin River, Nakdong River, and Bukhan River.

Major crackdown targets include ▲unauthorized fishing activities ▲violations of prohibited fishing gear use periods and areas ▲violations of prohibited periods for aquatic resource capture and collection and body length regulations (regulations permitting only capture of certain minimum sizes) ▲use of illegal fishing equipment ▲violations of recreational fishing order such as use of motorized boats, cast nets, and spears ▲illegal fishing gear use and other disorderly conduct.

The province plans to impose legal proceedings and administrative measures including license revocation and operational suspension according to fisheries-related laws and ordinances for violations detected during crackdowns.

Lee Sang-woo, director of the Marine and Fisheries Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Fall is an important season for aquatic resource protection as shellfish spawn in spring and grow during this season. Through intensive joint crackdowns, we will do our utmost to establish compliance-focused fishing operations and eliminate illegal activities."

Meanwhile, the province previously conducted intensive crackdowns on illegal fishing during the July-August fishing ban period, detecting a total of 27 cases including unauthorized fishing, and implemented follow-up measures including legal proceedings, administrative measures, and administrative fines.