Korea Coast Guard will sharply strengthen efforts to monitor Chinese vessels that pass through the East Sea to fish for squid in North Korean and Russian waters.
The East Sea Regional Headquarters of Korea Coast Guard is aiming to crack down on illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in South Korean waters and prevent clashes between such ships and South Korean fishermen as a growing number of Chinese ships have sailed toward North Korean and Russian waters lately.
The regional office will expand sharing data on Chinese ships with the Navy and the East Sea Fisheries Management Service. It will carry out surveillance efforts by deploying patrol boats and aircraft to key points.
As of Tuesday, a total of 545 Chinese fishing vessels sailed through the East Sea. Out of that total, 311 returned to China due to low catch rates while 234 are known to be still fishing in North Korean and Russian waters.
The number of Chinese fishing ships that sailed toward North Korean and Russian waters stood at 1,000,299 in 2011, 1,000,439 in 2012, 1,000,326 in 2013, 1,000,904 in 2014 and 870 last year.
2013 KBS World Radio