South African authorities have detained and fined four Chinese-flagged fishing vessels after they entered the country’s exclusive economic zone without authorisation, triggering a multi-agency enforcement response amid growing concern over illegal fishing and maritime surveillance along the country’s coastline.
The vessels, owned by the Chinese company Shenzhen Shuiwan Pelagic Fisheries, were intercepted by South African officials and escorted to Cape Town where they were placed under guard while investigations were conducted.
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp confirmed the action in a statement on Thursday, describing the move as part of the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s maritime resources and enforcing its sovereign rights at sea.
According to the minister, the vessels initially contacted South African authorities on 23 February requesting permission for what is known under international maritime law as “innocent passage”, a provision that allows ships to transit through a coastal state’s territorial waters provided they do not engage in activities deemed prejudicial to the security or economic interests of that state. The ships indicated at the time that they intended to pass through the waters and exit South Africa’s maritime zone by 3 March.
However, officials said the situation changed several days later when the vessels applied for off-port limits authorisation — permission required for certain maritime activities conducted outside a harbour — but failed to submit the documentation required under South African regulations. During the same period, the vessels repeatedly switched off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders, devices that transmit a ship’s identity and location and are widely used by maritime authorities to monitor vessel movements and prevent illegal activities at sea.
Authorities subsequently detected the vessels operating within 12 nautical miles of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, placing them inside South Africa’s territorial waters. They were later tracked moving southwards along the Eastern Cape shoreline, raising further suspicions among maritime monitoring agencies.
South Africa’s exclusive economic zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from its coast and grants the country sovereign rights to manage natural resources within that area, including fish stocks. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has long been a concern for South African authorities, who say foreign fleets sometimes operate near the country’s waters in pursuit of valuable marine species.
Following their detention in Cape Town, the vessels were issued a combined administrative fine of 400,000 rand, equivalent to roughly £17,000 or $24,000. The penalty was paid promptly, after which the ships were released and have since departed South African waters.
Aucamp said the incident demonstrated the country’s determination to enforce maritime law and safeguard its marine resources.
“South Africa will not tolerate the unlawful use of its maritime zones,” he said, adding that authorities would continue to monitor vessel movements and take action when necessary to protect the nation’s fisheries and coastal security.