Illegal Fishing Crackdown

[Anchor Lead]

Korea Coast Guard officials face numerous obstacles when it comes to cracking down on illegal Chinese fishermen, who have grown more and more aggressive over time. The Korean government has laid out solutions but they have not yet been enough to solve the problem.

[Pkg]

The Yellow Sea is crowded with Chinese fishing boats. They are protected by nets and sharp iron bars to avoid crackdowns by South Korea's Coast Guard. Even when the Coast Guard officials do manage to board the Chinese vessels, the fishermen wield clubs and even hatchets to keep them away. Some even work in teams to avoid crackdowns by connecting multiple boats into one fleet. Chinese fishermen are using more organized violence than ever, but the Korea Coast Guard still deploys outdated methods and insufficient personnel to keep them at bay. Outnumbered Korean officials risk their lives to counter Chinese fishermen face to face. During the latest crackdown, only two rigid inflatable boats were deployed to counter more than 40 Chinese fishing vessels.

[Soundbite] Cho Dong-soo(Head of Patrol Ship) : "We received a report that Chinese vessels were approaching. When I looked back, I saw a Chinese boat charging at me."

Although the Korea Coast Guard has formed a taskforce comprising large ships and helicopters, it cannot be deployed on a regular basis due to a lack of personnel.

[Soundbite] Heo Seon-kyu(Committee on Fighting Illegal Chinese Vessels in Yellow Sea) : "They infringe upon our national territory. We must take strong measures when the assets and lives of our people are under threat, even if that means using firearms."

Experts say that for the measures to be effective, the Chinese government must step in to stop illegal Chinese fishermen from entering South Korea's waters.