Gunsan coast guard catches two boats over illegal crab fishing
In short
Gunsan Maritime Police Station said it caught two fishing boats within three days on suspicion of illegal crab fishing, one for fishing without a gillnet permit and one for leaving its permitted zone. The boats took about 30 kg and about 20 kg of crab respectively, and one was also found without ship documents such as its nationality certificate. The coast guard said it will investigate the captains under the Fisheries Act and tighten patrols and inspections.
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Gunsan Maritime Police Station said it caught two fishing boats within three days on suspicion of illegal crab fishing, citing unlicensed fishing and fishing-zone violations. Yonhap reported the station's account of the enforcement action on October 5, and Newsis headlined the same two-boat catch. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to the coast guard, the first case was found at about 09:00 on October 3, when a 7.93-ton boat was caught about 5 km north of Bangchukdo in Okdo-myeon for taking about 30 kg of crab without a gillnet fishing permit. The vessel was also found not to be carrying ship documents such as its ship nationality certificate, Yonhap reported. [ 1 ]
The second case was found at about 06:30 on October 4, when a 3.86-ton boat was stopped during an inspection about 4 km south of Yeondo in Okdo-myeon. The station said it had violated its fishing zone and taken about 20 kg of crab without a permit. [ 1 ]
The coast guard said it will apply suspicions including unlicensed fishing under the Fisheries Act to the captains and investigate. A Gunsan coast guard official said it would strengthen sea patrols and inspections so that illegal fishing is punished strictly under law and principle. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The cases show the Gunsan coast guard treating unlicensed and out-of-zone crab fishing as an enforcement priority, with two boats caught in three days. The station's pledge to strengthen patrols and inspections signals continued checks on fishing vessels in the area. The documents give no figures on catch volumes, fines or wider fishery impact beyond these two cases.
Key facts
- Gunsan Maritime Police Station said it caught two boats engaged in crab fishing without gillnet permits or outside permitted zones. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A 3.86-ton boat was caught at about 06:30 on October 4 about 4 km south of Yeondo in Okdo-myeon, having taken about 20 kg of crab without a permit and violated its fishing zone. [ 1 ]
- A 7.93-ton boat was caught at about 09:00 on October 3 about 5 km north of Bangchukdo in Okdo-myeon, having taken about 30 kg of crab without a gillnet fishing permit. [ 1 ]
- The 7.93-ton boat was also found not to have ship documents, including its ship nationality certificate, on board. [ 1 ]
- The coast guard said it will apply Fisheries Act suspicions such as unlicensed fishing to the captains and investigate. [ 1 ]
- A Gunsan coast guard official said sea patrols and inspections will be strengthened so illegal fishing is punished strictly under law and principle. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Gunsan Maritime Police Station said it caught two fishing boats on suspicion of illegal crab fishing, citing unlicensed fishing and fishing-zone violations. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The coast guard said it would strengthen sea patrols and inspections and punish illegal fishing strictly under law and principle, according to an official it quoted. [ 1 ]
- One of the two boats, a 7.93-ton vessel, was found without ship documents such as its ship nationality certificate on board. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- What happens to the two boats, their captains and the crab found aboard is not stated. The documents say only that the captains will be investigated on suspicions including unlicensed fishing and give no penalty or confiscation figures.
- Whether the two cases are linked, for example through the same owner or crew, is not stated. They are described as separate catches on different dates and at different locations, with no connection reported.
- The exact charges to be filed and any court proceedings are unknown. Both the coast guard account and the second outlet's headline refer only to unlicensed fishing and fishing-zone violations.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A 7.93-ton boat is caught about 5 km north of Bangchukdo in Okdo-myeon for taking about 30 kg of crab without a gillnet fishing permit; no ship documents are found aboard (October 3). [ 1 ]
- A 3.86-ton boat is caught about 4 km south of Yeondo in Okdo-myeon for fishing outside its permitted zone and taking about 20 kg of crab without a permit (October 4). [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes the Gunsan coast guard's account of the two catches (October 5). [ 1 ]
- Newsis publishes its report on the same two-boat enforcement action (October 5). [ 2 ]