▲ 정부합동 특별단속 중 심야 틈타불법조업 중이던 외국어선 4척 나포(사진제공:중부지방해양경찰청)  © 박상도 기자

(브레이크뉴스인천 박상도 기자) 심야시간을 틈타 우리 해역에서 불법조업을 감행하던 불법조업 외국어선들이 중부지방해양경찰청이 주관하는 정부 합동(해경･해수부･해군) 특별단속 철퇴를 맞았다.

중부지방해양경찰청(이하 중부해경청)이 지난 24일 오전 4시께 인천 옹진군 대청도 남서쪽 58km(32해리) 해상에서 특정해역  약 16km(8해리) 인근해역에서 불법조업 중이던 외국어선 4척을 경제수역어업주권법 위반 혐의로 나포했다고 밝혔다.

중부해경청에 따르면, 이날 나포된 어선은 모두 철선으로, 지휘선인 주선과 종선이 함께 짝을 지어 그물을 끌며 조업하는 쌍타망 방식의 선박이다.

이들 어선은 배를 멈추라는 해경 함정의 정선명령을 거부한 채 어선 현측에 등선방해물을 설치하고 단속을 피해 도주하다가 배에 올라타 조타실을 진압한 서해5도특별경비단의 특수진압대원과 해상특수기동대원에 의해 제압‧나포됐다.

당시 현지에는 1.5~2m 높이의 파도가 치고 있는 악천후 상태로 특별단속의 어려움을 더했다.

나포된 4척 중 함께 조업하던 2척(주･종선)은 430톤급으로 주선에는 50대 선장을 포함해 선원 16명이, 종선에는 30대 선장 등 승선원 15명이 타고 있었다.

다른 2척(주･종선)은 모두 120톤급으로 주선에는 50대 선장 등 선원 16명이, 종선에는 50대 선장 포함 승선원 13명이 타고 있었다.

이들 어선은 나포 당시 까나리를 포획 중이었던 것으로 확인됐으며, 선수와 어창에서는 다량의 까나리 등 어획물이 발견됐다.

중부해경청은 나포 현장에서 정선명령 불응과 불법조업 혐의에 대해 현장조사를 진행 중이며, 조사 결과에 따라 나포 어선에 대해 각각 3억원의 담보금을 부과할 예정으로 추후 선주(선장)측의 납부 여부에 따라 인천해경서 전용부두로 압송할 지를 결정할 계획이다.

한편, 중부해경청은 가을 성어기를 맞아 최근 급증하고 있는 불법조업 외국어선에 강력히 대응하고자 23일부터 25일까지 해군2함대･서해어업관리단과 합동으로 특별단속을 실시하고 있고, 관계기관간 함정 19척, 항공기 1대 등 대규모 세력을 동원 중이라고 밝혔다.

김용진 중부지방해양경찰청장은 24일 오후 3시께 해경 항공기를 이용하여 단속현장을 점검한 뒤 “최근 들어 관할해역에 꽃게, 까나리, 삼치 등의 어장이 형성되고 있다.”며 “불법 외국어선에 대한 선제적이고 강력한 단속을 통해 우리 어민들의 생업을 보장하고, 수산자원 안보를 지키기 위해 최선을 다하겠다.”고 밝혔다.

*아래는 위 기사를 '구글번역'으로 번역한 영문기사의 [전문]입니다.‘구글번역’은 이해도 높이기를 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*Below is the [full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is trying to improve comprehension. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>

Central Coast Guard, 4 foreign fishing boats caught illegally fishing during late-night special crackdown

Coast Guard, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Navy join hands to conduct special crackdown during fall peak fishing season

-Break News Incheon Park Sang-do reporter

Foreign fishing boats that were illegally fishing in our waters during late-night hours were hit by a government joint special crackdown (Coast Guard, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Navy) led by the Central Coast Guard.

The Central Coast Guard (hereinafter referred to as the Central Coast Guard) announced on the 24th at around 4:00 AM that it had seized four foreign fishing boats that were illegally fishing in waters approximately 16km (8 nautical miles) southwest of Daecheong Island, Ongjin County, Incheon, on charges of violating the Economic Zone Fisheries Sovereignty Act.

According to the Central Coast Guard, all of the fishing boats seized that day were iron boats, which are twin-net vessels where the lead boat and the main boat work together to pull the net.

These fishing boats refused the Coast Guard’s order to stop the boats and installed obstructions on the side of the boats to avoid detection, but were subdued and captured by special suppression agents and maritime special task force agents from the West Sea 5-Do Special Patrol Unit who boarded the boats and suppressed the wheelhouse.

At the time, the local area was experiencing bad weather conditions with waves 1.5 to 2 meters high, making special crackdowns more difficult.

Among the four ships captured, two ships (main and auxiliary ships) that were operating together were 430 tons, with 16 crew members including a captain in his 50s on the main ship and 15 crew members including a captain in his 30s on the auxiliary ship.

The other two ships (main and auxiliary ships) were both 120 tons, with 16 crew members including a captain in his 50s on the main ship and 13 crew members including a captain in his 50s on the auxiliary ship.

It was confirmed that these fishing ships were catching squid at the time of capture, and a large amount of squid and other catches were found in the bow and the fishing hold.

The Central Coast Guard is currently conducting an on-site investigation into the suspicion of noncompliance with the order to stop the ship and illegal fishing at the scene of the seizure, and based on the results of the investigation, it plans to impose a bond of 300 million won on each of the captured fishing vessels. It also plans to decide whether to send them to the Incheon Coast Guard's exclusive dock based on whether the ship owner (captain) pays the fine.

Meanwhile, the Central Coast Guard announced that it is conducting a special crackdown in cooperation with the Navy's 2nd Fleet and the West Sea Fisheries Management Unit from the 23rd to the 25th to respond strongly to the recent surge in illegal fishing by foreign fishing vessels during the fall peak fishing season, and is mobilizing a large force including 19 ships and 1 aircraft from related organizations.

At around 3:00 PM on the 24th, Kim Yong-jin, the Chief of the Central Regional Coast Guard, inspected the crackdown site using a Coast Guard aircraft and said, “Recently, fishing grounds for crabs, squid, tuna, etc. have been formed in our jurisdictional waters.” He added, “We will do our best to guarantee the livelihoods of our fishermen and protect the security of our fishery resources through preemptive and strong crackdowns on illegal foreign fishing boats.”