Caught At Sea: Four Chinese Fishing Vessels Busted In South African Waters, Slapped With R400,000 Fine

Authorities sprang into action after four Chinese-flagged fishing vessels allegedly entered South Africa’s maritime territory without the necessary permission.

The ships — Zhong Yang 231, Zhong Yang 232, Zhong Yang 233 and Zhong Yang 239 — were intercepted after moving into South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and territorial waters without authorisation. Officials from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), supported by a South African Police Service tactical unit, tracked the vessels before escorting them to anchorage at the Port of Cape Town.

The owner of the vessels, Shenzhen Shuiwan Pelagic Fisheries Co. Ltd, was later issued with an administrative penalty of R400,000, which has since been paid. After settling the fine, the vessels were released and have now departed South African waters.

Suspicious Movements Raise As Chinese Ships Pass

Investigations revealed that the vessels had initially informed authorities they would simply pass through South African waters.

According to officials, the ships requested permission on February 23 to travel through the country’s EEZ under “innocent passage”, indicating they would exit the area by March 3. However, concerns grew when the vessels also applied for Off-Port Limits authorisation but failed to provide the required justification.

Authorities later discovered that the vessels had already moved into South African territorial waters while their request was still being assessed.

Officials subsequently detected the ships operating within 12 nautical miles of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline before tracking their movement along the Eastern Cape coast.

During the monitoring operation, authorities noticed suspicious behaviour at sea.

“During this time, the vessels repeatedly switched their Automatic Identification System (AIS) on and off.”

Government Vows to Protect Marine Resources

The AIS system plays a key role in maritime safety, allowing vessels to be tracked and helping prevent collisions at sea. South African regulations require all foreign vessels travelling through the country’s waters to keep the system active at all times.

“AIS is a critical safety system used to ensure navigational awareness and prevent collisions at sea,” the department said.

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Authorities said there were reasonable grounds to suspect violations of the Marine Living Resources Act, leading to charges against the vessels’ captains.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, warned that South Africa will act firmly against any illegal activity in its waters.

“South Africa will not tolerate the unlawful use of its maritime zones,” he said.

“We remain resolute in safeguarding our marine resources and ensuring that our ports are not perceived as ports of convenience. Compliance with our laws is non-negotiable.”