More than 160 South Korean fishermen staged a rally in the West Sea on Wednesday to protest the government's latest measures against illegal Chinese fishing, demanding state compensation for their economic loss, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The rally was staged in waters some 210 km northwest of the western port city of Incheon, with the fishermen hailing from five major islands in the West Sea arriving there in 80 boats. The protesters wore headbands with "Guarantee Right to Livelihood" signs, with placards calling for government measures hung on the boats.
On November 20, the government unveiled a package of measures meant to further crack down on illegal Chinese fishing, including the establishment of a special enforcement team comprised of naval vessels and helicopters. "The government, however, failed to come up with steps to directly compensate those who have suffered economic losses from illegal fishing by Chinese boats," a group representing the South Korean fishermen was quoted as saying. The fishermen also threatened to attempt to visit Seoul aboard their boats unless the government accepts their demands by early December.
Chinese boats' illegal fishing in South Korea waters has been rampant in recent years, posing a headache to the Seoul government and inflicting economic losses on South Korean fishermen, according to the report. Nearly 100 Chinese fishermen are arrested each year for illegally entering South Korean waters in the West Sea. This year, 53 Chinese fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing, one of whom was accidentally shot dead by the South Korean Coast Guard in October.