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Korea and China Strengthen Cooperation in Responding to Illegal Fishing in the West Sea Through Joint Patrols by Enforcement Agencies
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Date
2026.10.26.
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59
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Korea and China Strengthen Cooperation in Responding to Illegal Fishing in the West Sea Through Joint Patrols by Enforcement Agencies
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that it held joint patrols with the China Coast Guard in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) for 8 days from Friday, October 9 through Friday, October 16.
The Korea-China joint patrol is a cooperative initiative in which patrol vessels from both countries work together at sea to check fishing activities and compliance with fisheries regulations and to combat illegal fishing. Conducted annually from 2014 to 2022, the joint patrols were suspended from 2023 due to disagreements over patrol routes. The two countries subsequently agreed at the 25th Korea-China Joint Fisheries Committee meeting and the 2026 Korea-China Supervision and Enforcement Working Group Meeting to resume joint patrols, which were conducted for the first time in four years.
Participating in this joint patrol were the Mugunghwa No. 42 belonging to MOF’s West Sea Fisheries Management Service and Vessel 6501 of the North Sea Branch of the China Coast Guard. The two countries' patrol vessels jointly patrolled major fishing areas within the PMZ. They checked the fishing activities of 123 Chinese fishing vessels, including 49 trawlers and 26 gillnetters. The checks included verifying whether the vessels held valid fishing permits and whether any prohibited fishing gear was being used. Onboard inspections of three Chinese fishing vessels were also conducted during this process.
The joint patrol demonstrated Korea and China’s shared commitment to combating illegal fishing and encouraged fishers to comply with fisheries regulations. It also helped enforcement officials from both countries better understand each other’s inspection methods and procedures and gain practical experience in working together at sea. These outcomes are expected to provide a foundation for a more effective response to illegal fishing.
“We will strengthen cooperation with the Chinese government to ensure that the resumed joint patrols lead to greater compliance with fishing rules and help prevent illegal fishing. We will also respond firmly to illegal fishing to ensure orderly fishing operations in the West Sea,” said Kim In-kyeong, Director General of Fisheries Resources Policy at MOF.
- Joint patrol resumed for the first time in 4 years to verify fishing activities of 123 Chinese vessels
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that it held joint patrols with the China Coast Guard in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) for 8 days from Friday, October 9 through Friday, October 16.
The Korea-China joint patrol is a cooperative initiative in which patrol vessels from both countries work together at sea to check fishing activities and compliance with fisheries regulations and to combat illegal fishing. Conducted annually from 2014 to 2022, the joint patrols were suspended from 2023 due to disagreements over patrol routes. The two countries subsequently agreed at the 25th Korea-China Joint Fisheries Committee meeting and the 2026 Korea-China Supervision and Enforcement Working Group Meeting to resume joint patrols, which were conducted for the first time in four years.
Participating in this joint patrol were the Mugunghwa No. 42 belonging to MOF’s West Sea Fisheries Management Service and Vessel 6501 of the North Sea Branch of the China Coast Guard. The two countries' patrol vessels jointly patrolled major fishing areas within the PMZ. They checked the fishing activities of 123 Chinese fishing vessels, including 49 trawlers and 26 gillnetters. The checks included verifying whether the vessels held valid fishing permits and whether any prohibited fishing gear was being used. Onboard inspections of three Chinese fishing vessels were also conducted during this process.
The joint patrol demonstrated Korea and China’s shared commitment to combating illegal fishing and encouraged fishers to comply with fisheries regulations. It also helped enforcement officials from both countries better understand each other’s inspection methods and procedures and gain practical experience in working together at sea. These outcomes are expected to provide a foundation for a more effective response to illegal fishing.
“We will strengthen cooperation with the Chinese government to ensure that the resumed joint patrols lead to greater compliance with fishing rules and help prevent illegal fishing. We will also respond firmly to illegal fishing to ensure orderly fishing operations in the West Sea,” said Kim In-kyeong, Director General of Fisheries Resources Policy at MOF.
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