Confiscated Illegal Chinese Fishing Boat to be Dismantled Says Gunsan Maritime Police

A Chinese Ship, Lu Wei Gao Yu 60800, that was captured last December by Korean Coast Guards for illegal fishing on Korean waters, is now to be sold, not for reuse but to be completely dismantled. The said boat was confiscated for staging armed resistance against South Korean Coast Guard during the crackdown. The crew of the said boat was reported to wield arms against the Coast Guard, leading the court to forfeit and confiscate the boat. Now this illegal Chinese fishing boat to be dismantled as reported last Tuesday.

As reported by a Gunsan Maritime Police, the said illegal Chinese fishing boat to be dismantled within the month. Gunsan, where the said illegal Chinese boat was caught, is located 274 kilometers south of Seoul. The Gunsan Maritime Police was in charge of selling the confiscated boat with the condition of completely dismantling it within the month.

This 154-ton illegal Chinese fishing boat to be dismantled by a ship breaker and will be turned over to scrap traders. This is new since Chinese fishing boats that were previously seized by South Korean coast guards for illegal fishing were normally returned to the owners after court rulings. But since those confiscated ships were again used for illegal operations after they're returned to their owners, the South Korean government decided to implement a more strict punishment.

With this particular illegal Chinese fishing boat to be dismantled, the South Korean government wants to set an example on a more strict punishment with regards to illegal fishing. The South Korean Coast Guard is doing this to further discourage illegal Chinese fishing boats to enter the Korean sea in the future. This is expected to help the government to fully eliminate illegal fishing in the country's water.