Fewer Chinese boats seized for illegal fishing last year

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- The number of Chinese boats seized for illegally
fishing in South Korean waters declined last year from a year earlier amid a
tightened crackdown, the nation's maritime police said Saturday.

Chinese fishing boats seized here totaled 307 last year, down 13 percent from the
previous year's 353. Of the total, 290 boats violated the exclusive economic zone
off the nation's western coast, while 17 illegally fished in the nation's
territorial waters, according to the police.
"The decline is attributed to stepped-up crackdown efforts by our maritime police
and cooperation by the Chinese government to prevent illegal fishing by its
people," a maritime police official said.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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