Over 400 Chinese Fishing Vessels Depart Jeju Island After Storm
Jeju Island, South Korea – November 19, 2024 – Over 400 Chinese fishing vessels that sought refuge in Jeju Island’s waters following a severe storm have departed, according to the Jeju Provincial Maritime Police. The exodus marks the largest influx of Chinese fishing boats seeking shelter in Jeju since January 25, 2016, when over 1200 vessels sought refuge due to inclement weather.
The fleet of 474 vessels, initially reported by Yonhap News Agency, had been operating near the maritime boundary defined by the South Korea-China Fisheries Agreement when they encountered five-meter-high waves on November 17th. Seeking safety, they sought shelter near the coast of Seogwipo City’s Hwasun Port.
Following a downgrade of thehigh-seas wind and wave warning for the southern waters of Jeju Island at 8 PM on November 18th, the vessels began their departure. According to the Maritime Police, all vessels have now left South Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without incident.
This incident highlights the vulnerabilityof fishing fleets to sudden changes in weather conditions in the region. The sheer number of vessels seeking refuge underscores the scale of fishing operations in the area and the potential challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns. The swift and coordinated response by the Jeju Provincial Maritime Police ensured the safety of the vessels and their crews. Theincident also serves as a reminder of the importance of the South Korea-China Fisheries Agreement in managing fishing activities in the shared waters. Future collaboration between the two countries in weather forecasting and emergency response could further mitigate risks to fishing fleets in the region.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (November19, 2024). Over 400 Chinese fishing vessels depart Jeju Island after storm. [Link to Yonhap News Agency article – This would be the actual link if the article were published online]
Note: The date and time of the original Yonhap News Agencyarticle are used for accuracy. The hypothetical link would be replaced with a real link if this were a published article. The information provided is based on the provided text and adheres to journalistic standards of accuracy and attribution.
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