South Korea’s Incheon maritime police is to dispatch a 500-ton class patrol vessel near the border with North Korea in response to Chinese commercial boats entering Seoul’s maritime space. Photo courtesy of Republic of Korea Ministry of Public Safety and Security

SEOUL, April 26 (UPI) -- South Korea is increasing the number of coast guard ships on duty as more Chinese fishing boats trespass into Seoul's maritime zone.

Chinese boats have been fishing illegally in South Korean waters for some time, and the number of Chinese boats fishing in or near the South's waters has skyrocketed in recent years.


Last October, 300 Chinese fishing vessels crossed south of the Northern Limit Line that demarcates South Korean fishing interests.

An average of 40-50 Chinese ships trespass into South Korean waters daily, according to South Korea Coast Guard estimates from 2015.

The South's Incheon maritime police said starting Wednesday a 500-ton class patrol vessel would be dispatched near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea.

Yeonpyeong was the target of North Korean shelling in 2010.

Yonhap reported the number of Chinese vessels now range between 180 and 240 at any given time around the NLL. Of that number, about 75 percent, or between 130 and 190 boats, are active near the shore of Yeonpyeong's northern coasts, the coast guard said.

The decision to deploy the patrol boat comes a month after the coast guard dispatched another boat that can carry its special forces.

Chinese fishing activities are having an impact on South Korea fisheries, Incheon coast guard said.

Spring is crab season, but the supply is expected to be 30 percent less than 2015 because of Chinese activities, the coast guard said.

RELATED North Korea denies it proposed end to nuclear tests

In 2016, South Korea coast guard seized 13 boats of Chinese origin.

Intrusive Chinese boats have been cited as one of the reasons for the delay in the Korea Coast Guard's response to the Sewol ferry sinking in April 2014. As more maritime patrol was reallocated to Korean coastal areas facing the Yellow Sea, less manpower was available to rescue passengers on the sinking ship.