INCHEON, Feb. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — High-end drones will be deployed on large vessels operated by South Korea’s Coast Guard to monitor Chinese boats engaging in illegal fishing activities, officials said Thursday.
The Coast Guard announced that it will invest 28 billion won (US$21.4 million) by 2028 to purchase 144 additional drones for 32 large vessels and its 20 stations.
The Coast Guard currently operates 43 multicopters, 16 unmanned aerial aircraft and 11 unmanned helicopters.
Chinese boats conducting illegal fishing activities in South Korea’s territorial seas detect incoming Coast Guard patrol ships on their radar and are able to escape.
Drones, in contrast, can move faster than ships, and secure evidence with more ease through their cameras.
The cameras installed on the unmanned helicopters can recognize small letters that are 1 kilometer away, which is helpful in identifying the names of Chinese boats conducting illegal fishing activities.
Image Credit: Coast Guard / photonews@koreabizwire.com
