What measures did South Korea announce to stop illegal Chinese fishing near the NLL?

South Korea said it will intensify crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels near the Northern Limit Line and add four countermeasures. Those include removing illegal fishing gear, strengthening on-site enforcement, and expanding cooperative enforcement and diplomatic efforts.

Why is South Korea pushing tougher action against Chinese fishing boats in the West Sea?

Officials said Chinese boats frequently cross the NLL from the north to fish illegally in South Korean waters. They also said the military and police will streamline information sharing, while laws will be amended to punish anchoring at sea and supplying goods.

How has South Korea changed penalties and enforcement for illegal Chinese fishing near the NLL?

The foreign ministry said it will urge China to guide its fishermen and step up crackdowns, while informing them through diplomatic missions about the higher fine. The Coast Guard also plans a new enforcement unit on Baengnyeong Island, and the government said illegal Chinese fishing activity near the NLL has dropped from about 200 vessels a day in 2016 to fewer than 100.

S. Korea unveils tougher measures to curb illegal Chinese fishing near NLL

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Summary

South Korea said Thursday it will intensify crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels operating illegally near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea. The Korea Coast Guard and four ministries announced four countermeasures, including stronger enforcement, removal of illegal gear and tighter diplomatic coordination. The government also plans legal amendments and a new special enforcement unit on Baengnyeong Island. The foreign ministry said the maximum fine for illegal Chinese fishing rose to 1.5 billion won in May.

Key Facts

The Korea Coast Guard said it will set up a new special enforcement unit on Baengnyeong Island, alongside existing units on Yeonpyeong and Daecheong islands.
The fisheries ministry plans to deploy dedicated vessels to remove traps and other illegal fishing gear near the NLL.
The foreign ministry said the maximum fine for illegal Chinese fishing operations was raised from 300 million won to 1.5 billion won starting in May.
The waters south of the NLL are designated as a special exclusion zone where foreign fishing vessels are prohibited from operating.
The number of Chinese fishing vessels illegally operating near the NLL had averaged about 200 per day in 2016 and has since fallen to fewer than 100.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 27, 2026 12:29 pm KST

Chinese fishing vessels illegally operating in waters near the inter-Korean sea border in the West Sea, July 10 / Newsis

South Korea's government said Thursday it will step up crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels illegally operating in waters near the inter-Korean sea border in the West Sea.

The Korea Coast Guard held a joint press briefing in Seoul with the foreign, unification, defense and fisheries ministries to announce the government's comprehensive measures to counter foreign vessels illegally operating near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.

They said the government will implement four countermeasures, including intensifying crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels operating near the NLL, forcibly removing illegal fishing gear, strengthening on-site enforcement capabilities and enhancing cooperative enforcement and diplomatic cooperation.

Specifically, the government will streamline information-sharing procedures between the military and police and punish acts of anchoring at sea and supplying goods through amendments to relevant laws.

The fisheries ministry plans to deploy dedicated vessels to forcibly remove traps and other illegal fishing gear installed by Chinese fishing vessels in waters near the NLL, while installing additional artificial structures to prevent fishing operations in the area.

The Korea Coast Guard will establish a new special enforcement unit on Baengnyeong Island to crack down on illegal Chinese fishing operations, in addition to existing enforcement units based on Yeonpyeong and Daecheong islands.

The foreign ministry plans to urge the Chinese government to take active measures, such as guiding its fishermen and stepping up crackdowns on illegal fishing, while informing them through overseas diplomatic missions about an amendment to South Korean law that raised the maximum fine for illegal Chinese fishing operations from 300 million won (US$217,500) to 1.5 billion won starting in May.

The waters south of the NLL are designated as a special exclusion zone where foreign fishing vessels are prohibited from operating, but Chinese fishing boats frequently exploit the division of the Korean Peninsula by crossing the NLL from the north to engage in illegal fishing in South Korean waters.

The number of Chinese fishing vessels illegally operating in waters near the NLL had averaged about 200 per day in 2016, but has since decreased to fewer than 100.

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