Taean Maritime Police Station said on the 23rd that it seized and is investigating one Chinese fishing boat, the A, a 100-ton class vessel with 15 crew members, on suspicion of illegal fishing.
The A was caught by the Korea Coast Guard on maritime patrol at about 1:16 p.m. on the 22nd in waters 80 kilometers southwest of Seogyeokryeolbiyeoldo, Taean County, South Chungcheong Province.
The Korea Coast Guard determined that the A had violated the fisheries agreement line by 1.5 nautical miles (2.4 kilometers) and illegally fished in Korea's exclusive economic zone, and after a chase, seized the vessel and transported the crew to Sinjin Port. A Korea Coast Guard official said, "The crew members have been booked on charges including violating the Act on the Exercise of Sovereignty over Foreigners' Fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone, and we are investigating the details targeting them."