Two Chinese fishing boats were captured near the border island of Baengnyeong in the Yellow Sea for suspected illegal fishing in South Korean waters, as reported by the country’s Coast Guard. The vessels were apprehended 14.8 km northwest of the island after fishing illegally beyond the Northern Limit Line, the maritime boundary between South and North Korea. During the operation, one Chinese sailor in his 40s suffered cardiac arrest and unfortunately passed away despite receiving CPR on the way to a nearby hospital.
Authorities mentioned that the deceased sailor had reportedly consumed a significant amount of alcohol. Following the incident, the Coast Guard informed Chinese consular authorities about the sailor’s death and plans to investigate the remaining crew members involved in the illegal fishing activities. Last month, South Korea’s maritime ministry announced stricter penalties for foreign vessels engaged in illegal fishing within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), raising the fine cap to USD 1 million.
President Lee Jae Myung instructed maritime police to take decisive actions against illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in South Korean waters. He specifically directed the Korea Coast Guard to enforce stringent measures when Chinese fishing boats operate unlawfully in South Korea’s EEZ in the Yellow Sea.
