South Korea Seizes Two Chinese Boats Over Illegal Fishing, One Sailor Dies

(MENAFN- IANS) Seoul, May 9 (IANS) Two Chinese fishing boats were seized near the border island of Baengnyeong in the Yellow Sea on suspicion of illegal fishing in South Korean waters, the country's Coast Guard said Saturday.

The two boats fished illegally after crossing the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between South and North Korea, three kilometres into South Korean waters, around 8 pm Friday and were caught 14.8 km northwest of the island, according to the Coast Guard.

One of the sailors entered a state of cardiac arrest during the crackdown, according to the Coast Guard. The person, a Chinese national in his 40s, was given CPR while being rushed to a nearby hospital, but was later pronounced dead, it added, Yonhap news agency reported.

Crew members have said the deceased sailor consumed a lot of alcohol.

Authorities said they have reported the sailor's death to Chinese consular authorities. They plan to investigate the rest of the crew members regarding the circumstances surrounding their illegal fishing.

Last month, the maritime ministry said that Illegal fishing by foreign vessels in South Korean waters will face tougher punishment under revised laws.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the cap on fines on unlicensed vessels operating in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be raised to 1.5 billion won (USD 1 million) from the previous 0.3 billion won.

The move came as President Lee Jae Myung has instructed maritime police to take stern measures against illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in South Korean waters, known as the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Lee has asked the Korea Coast Guard to take stern measures against Chinese fishing boats when they operate illegally in South Korea's EEZ in the Yellow Sea.

–IANS

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