Seoul: South Korea has significantly increased the maximum penalty for foreign ships fishing illegally in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as part of ongoing efforts to address illegal Chinese fishing activities in the Yellow Sea. The Coast Guard announced on Thursday that the maximum fine has been increased fivefold.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the revised EEZ fisheries law, which came into effect on Tuesday, raises the maximum fine for foreign vessels fishing illegally in South Korean waters to 1.5 billion won (approximately US$1 million) from the previous 300 million won. This change aims to deter illegal fishing practices that have become more prevalent in South Korea's EEZ in recent years.
The Coast Guard reported that 57 illegal Chinese fishing vessels were seized last year, marking the highest annual count since 66 vessels were captured in 2021. The new legal provisions also increase the required bail for releasing seized vessels and their crew to a maximum of 1.5 billion won, a significant rise from the previous range of 150 million to 300 million won, depending on vessel size. Offenders receive their bail back upon paying the imposed fine.
In December, President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the need for stricter penalties against illegal Chinese fishing vessels, indicating that existing measures were insufficient to deter such activities.