South Africa Intercepts Four Chinese Fishing Vessels For Unauthorized Entry Into EEZ

South African authorities intercepted four Chinese-flagged fishing vessels after they entered the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and territorial waters without proper authorization.

The vessels were later fined and released after compliance procedures were completed at the Port of Cape Town.

The operation was carried out by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) with support from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Officials said the action is part of efforts to enforce maritime laws and prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in national waters.

The vessels, Zhong Yang 231, Zhong Yang 232, Zhong Yang 233, and Zhong Yang 239, were intercepted and placed under guard at the anchorage of the Port of Cape Town.

Authorities completed compliance procedures with the owner, Shenzhen Shuiwan Pelagic Fisheries Co. Ltd., before allowing the vessels to depart.

Officials confirmed that the vessels had entered South Africa’s maritime zones without the required authorization.

Fisheries Minister Willie Aucamp said South Africa would not tolerate the unlawful use of its maritime zones. He added that compliance with national laws is mandatory for all foreign vessels operating near the country’s waters.

Authorities said the vessels first requested permission on 23 February 2026 to transit South Africa’s EEZ under the right of “innocent passage.” The vessels stated they would exit the zone by 3 March.

On 27 February, the vessels also submitted a request for Off-Port Limits (OPL) authorization. The request was rejected by the South African Maritime Safety Authority after officials found that the application did not include the required documentation or justification.

Investigations later showed that the vessels had already entered South African territorial waters while the OPL request was still being considered.

Monitoring systems detected the vessels operating within 12 nautical miles of the KwaZulu-Natal coast, placing them inside South Africa’s territorial waters. Authorities tracked their movement as they continued along the Eastern Cape coastline.

Investigators also observed interruptions in the vessels’ Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals. Under South African regulations, foreign vessels passing through national waters must keep AIS active at all times to support navigation safety and monitoring.

Officials said the vessels switched the AIS signal on and off while inside the EEZ, which is a violation of national rules.

Authorities determined there were reasonable grounds to suspect non-compliance under the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998. The masters of the four vessels were charged and an administrative penalty of R400,000 was imposed.

The vessel owner later paid the fine. After that, the vessels were released and departed South African waters.

Authorities said illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains a serious threat to marine resources. It affects fisheries management, marine ecosystems, and communities that depend on the ocean for jobs and food.

Reference: dffe