noun
illegal fishing; illegal operation
Refers to fishing or other marine operations conducted without proper authorization or in violation of regulations. Often used in news reports about poaching or unlicensed vessels.
違法操業の取り締まりが強化された。
Crackdowns on illegal fishing have been strengthened.
外国船による違法操業が問題になっている。
Illegal operations by foreign vessels have become a problem.
密漁 specifically means poaching or illegal fishing, often with a nuance of stealth. 違法操業 is a broader term that can include any illegal operation, not limited to fishing.
Compound of 違法 (illegal) and 操業 (operation). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning.