www.nairaland.com/attachments/12026118_0_webpa9a30c3a1d52235999a172668114c050

A study by non-profit Global Fishing Watch has helped to shed some light on the deadly phenomenon, which has seen rickety fishing vessels from North Korea washing up in Japan for years

The mystery surrounding North Korean 'ghost ships' which have been washing up in Japan full of dead bodies may now have been finally solved.

or years, Japan's north coast had been the site of the disturbing phenomenon, with rickety fishing vessels arriving more than 1,000km from where they set out.

In 2017 the numbers were unprecedented with more than 100 damaged boats landing, containing a total of 35 bodies, compared to 66 vessels the year before.

Some have speculated the weather that year was to blame and that North Korea's aging fishing population had something to do with the problem.

But a study by non-profit Global Fishing Watch and published today in journal Science Advances has been able to shed some light on the matter.

Researchers used satellite technologies to analyse marine traffic in northeast Asia in 2017 and 2018, and discovered hundreds of "dark fishing fleets" - believed to be Chinese - have been operating in North Korean waters - apparently illegally.

This meant ushering out North Korean boats and forcing them on ill-advised ventures into Russian and Japanese waters, poorly equipped for long distance travel.

For foreigners, fishing in waters off the North Korean coast or trading fish caught there internationally is against the law - but it doesn't appear to have deterred the huge swathes of rogue ships, according to the report.

The paper's authors estimate in 2017 and 2018 alone these ships caught more than 160,000 metric tons of Pacific flying squid, a particularly valuable seafood - worth £475 million.

Jaeyoon Park, a senior data scientist at Global Fishing Watch and co-lead author of the study, said: "It is the largest known case of illegal fishing perpetrated by vessels originating from one country operating in another nation's waters."

Another author, Jungsam Lee, said the North Korean vessels' decision to try their luck in distant foreign waters would have proved catastrophic for many of the fisherman.

"It is too dangerous for them to work in the same waters as the Chinese trawlers," he explained.

"That's why they're pushed to work in Russian and Japanese waters and that explains why some of North Korea's damaged vessels showed up on the beaches of Japan."

Northeast Asia's waters are some of the most contested seas in the world, but fish stocks are in dramatic decline.

The Pacific flying squid stocks have dropped 80 per cent in South Korean waters and 82 per cent Japanese waters since 2003, according to Global Fishing Watch.

"While fishers and their families have watched their incomes plummet, academics are left puzzled over the most likely cause of this decline in catch," Mr Park wrote in a blog post accompanying the study.

"Many point to overfishing as the biggest culprit, while some suggest that climate change may be playing a part, with changes in water temperature affecting spawning and migration patterns."

"It seems to make depressing but all too familiar sense," he added.

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/mystery-surrounds-north-korea-ghost-22433214

Wow

Haba

It was simply a case of survival of the fittest.. Fishing boats can't compete against fishing trawlers...

Controversial NORTH.

For a second, I thought I was about to read an MSM article accusing North Korea of indiscriminately killing it's own citizens which resulted in dead bodies found on North Korean fishing boats.

What an anticlimactic feeling, but a good one regarding this news.

Mamiwota was done holding them hostage before she decided to be setting them free.. Probably, most times they have seen what is beyond human imaginations



A lot is yet to be known what goes behind water bodies.

OK, calm down. Don't go into high sea without good maps or compass like that capt Jack Sparrow's. It's usually ends like this.

Saw this article like 3 years ago

Nbotee:
It was simply a case of survival of the fittest.. Fishing boats can't compete against fishing trawlers...

You realise these same Chinese are stealing our fish off the coast of West Africa.

But our Fulani leadership are too slow witted to stop them...

Na wa oo things dey happen for that country..

Of all things on this earth it's the sea I respect.

Respect the sea or you will be sorry.

Dammnn Niggarrr
Isoright

No be today

nograv:


You realise these same Chinese are stealing our fish off the coast of West Africa.

But our Fulani leadership are too slow witted to stop them...

The Chinese are everywhere

ednut1:
Saw this article like 3 years ago

ghost spotted

Sea

nograv:


You realise these same Chinese are stealing our fish off the coast of West Africa.

But our Fulani leadership are too slow witted to stop them...

Don't care after they don't eat fish.

Install a tracking device at a discounted price for sallah.

Patronize us today

Oh wow, the beauty of communism.

despite the stories we hear about china's intolerance to corruption, their misdemeanor seems to be increasing around the world! they are the ones breaking law in every other country except china. just because north Korea depends on china for aids and support does not give Chinese fishing trawlers the right to encroach upon North Korea's fishing territories. imagine this happening to the poor people after everything they face from their dictatorial and ruthless government. so unfair!

Na wah oh

Wonderful! I'm glad I was helped into fishing without going to Sea.

Ok..Aluminium windows(Casement & casement burglary embedded), Sliding, Projected)doors(frameless doors), partitioning with Perfect Touch. whatsapp 08153665659. email: perfecttouchaluminium2012@yahoo.com https:///2348153665659✴️

Am I the only one who couldn't understand the article ?

Kk