S. Korea captures over 2,000 Chinese boats for illegal fishing

SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has captured more than 2,000 Chinese
fishing boats for illegal operation in its territorial waters over the past five
years, a government report showed Sunday.
According to the report compiled by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime
Affairs, South Korea's coast guard has captured 2,196 Chinese fishing boats for
violation of the nation's waters from 2004 until August this year.
In 2004, 437 boats were seized for illegal fishing with corresponding figures for
2005 and 2006 standing at 584 and 522. Last year, 494 Chinese boats were captured
and the number reached 159 during the first eight months of this year.
The report added a total of 20,896 Chinese crewmen have been seized over the
cited period and fines they paid amounted to 21.35 billion won (US$16.42
million).
During the period, meanwhile, only one South Korean vessel has been seized by
China for illegal fishing, with 5.2 million won paid in fines to the country,
according to the report.
The report comes as South Korea struggles to stave off illegal fishing by Chinese
boats.
In the latest incident, a South Korean coast guard officer was beaten to death in
September by Chinese fishermen during an inspection of their boats, which were
caught fishing in the nation's territorial waters.