SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) — China has agreed to mandate that its fishing vessels operating in South Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) must activate their tracking devices beginning in May of next year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on Friday.
This arrangement, which was agreed upon during the two nations’ regular fisheries talks, is intended to help South Korea combat illegal fishing by Chinese fishing boats. The vessels in the EEZ will be required to install and operate Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), which transmit location and speed data to the appropriate authorities.
The number of fishing boats allowed to enter each other’s EEZ will be set at 1,200 in 2024, a drop of 50 from this year’s number.
“We will continue to prepare policies based on the bilateral agreement to protect maritime resources and eradicate illegal fishing activities,” said Oceans Minister Cho Seung-hwan in a statement.
Choi Yong-seok (R), the deputy minister of fishing policy, and his Chinese counterpart, Liu Xinzhong, are seen in a photo released by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries during the 23rd joint fishing committee meeting in Gangneung, 163 kilometers east of Seoul, on Nov. 2, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
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