South Korea, China Resume Joint Patrol

Joint patrol in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) The guidance and enforcement vessels of South Korea and China have headed out together for the first time in four years to verify the conditions of 123 Chinese fishing vessels operating in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it is conducting a joint patrol with the China Coast Guard for eight days from Oct. 9 to 16, restoring a cooperative framework aimed at establishing fishing order in the West Sea. The joint patrol is part of a cooperative project in which the two countries’ guidance and enforcement vessels directly inspect the operating status of Chinese fishing boats at sea and jointly respond to illegal fishing. The project had been carried out annually since 2014, but had been suspended since 2023 due to differences between the two sides over the patrol route. The two countries reached a final agreement to resume the joint patrol through the 25th Korea-China Joint Fisheries Commission and the 2026 Korea-China Guidance and Enforcement Working-Level Meeting. At the patrol site, the Mugunghwa No. 42 of the West Sea Fisheries Management Service under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Vessel 6501 of the North Sea Branch of the China Coast Guard were deployed. The two countries’ guidance and enforcement vessels closely examined major fishing grounds within the Provisional Measures Zone, checking whether Chinese fishing vessels had received lawful fishing permits and whether they were using prohibited illegal fishing gear. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries expects the joint patrol to help encourage Chinese fishing vessels to voluntarily comply with fishing rules. It also assessed the operation as an opportunity to improve mutual understanding by allowing enforcement officials from both countries to share inspection methods and procedures on site. A ministry official said, "The joint patrol has the effect of drawing compliance with rules from Chinese fishing vessels while also improving work-related understanding between officials of the two countries," adding, "We will continue to respond strictly to illegal fishing and restore fishing order in the West Sea." The government plans to continue guidance and enforcement cooperation with the Chinese side following the resumption of this patrol. After completing the eight-day on-site inspection, the two countries are expected to discuss detailed measures for eradicating illegal fishing based on the operating conditions that were identified.