Seoul: South Korea and China held a virtual meeting among relevant government officials Wednesday to discuss joint efforts to better respond to illegal fishing in South Korea's territorial waters, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The meeting focused on assessing recent developments in China and the current status of illegal fishing in South Korea's waters as the autumn fishing season approaches.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the two sides reviewed ways for more effective measures to address illegal fishing, including proactive responses from vessels at the start of departure from ports. Participants recognized that illegal fishing affects not only maritime rights but also the livelihoods of Korean fishermen.
"They agreed on the need for a proactive approach and pledged to further enhance the collaborative framework among related government agencies," the ministry said. The ministry emphasized the importance of continued communication with Chinese authorities to ensure that illegal fishing does not strain bilateral relations between the two countries.
Officials from relevant embassies, the Coast Guard, and maritime experts from both countries also attended the meeting.