On October 21, the Guangdong Provincial Marine Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team announced a significant operation on October 19, where they intercepted an illegal fishing boat, named “Yue Nanao Yu 131XX,” attempting to fish in the sensitive Dongsha Island waters. A total of 26 people were onboard, including 20 fishing enthusiasts, and the operation effectively prevented a potential major maritime safety incident.
During an inspection in Nan’ao County, Shantou City on October 17, law enforcement personnel from the Shantou branch identified that the “Yue Nanao Yu 131XX” had illegally ventured into the Dongsha Islands area for fishing. The team immediately initiated a special operation, directing the Shantou branch to utilize the maritime comprehensive law enforcement platform to verify the boat’s information, closely monitor its movements, and maintain round-the-clock surveillance.
After two days of vigilant monitoring, at 5 PM on October 19, Shantou law enforcement officials noticed the boat returning towards Nan’ao. They promptly organized an interception, successfully boarding the vessel at 6:20 PM in the Nan’ao waters.
Upon inspection, it was confirmed that the “Yue Nanao Yu 131XX” had set out on the afternoon of October 14 for operations near Dongsha, allegedly engaging in illegal passenger fishing activities until its return on October 19. The boat measures 42.52 meters in length and is authorized for 20 occupants but was carrying 26 people—comprising 6 crew members and 20 fishing enthusiasts, with 12 cabins and 27 beds available onboard.
The authorities discovered approximately 600 kilograms of fish, including tuna, red snapper, and other species, along with a range of professional fishing equipment. The vessel is suspected of several violations, including inadequate crew composition, overcrowding, illegal passenger transportation, and unauthorized modifications. Currently, the boat has been brought back to the Shantou branch dock for further investigation.
It is worth noting that to ensure the safety of maritime fishing operations, the law enforcement team has initiated a special action starting October 17, aimed at strictly controlling the unauthorized activities of fishing vessels in sensitive waters while simultaneously cracking down on illegal passenger fishing practices.
