Japanese authorities say they have released the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that was captured in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The Fisheries Agency says he was released before 8 p.m. on Friday after China submitted documentation guaranteeing payment of a deposit.
The agency says patrol vessels spotted the boat in Japan’s EEZ on Thursday, about 165 kilometers southwest of the island of Meshima, which is part of Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
The agency says the boat ignored an order to stop for inspection, and that officials arrested the captain on suspicion of violating the law on sovereign rights regarding fishing operations.
The boat is reportedly capable of catching large quantities of fish such as mackerel and horse mackerel. The agency says 11 people were onboard, but no fish were found upon inspection.
Officials say this is the agency’s first seizure of a Chinese fishing boat since 2022. And they say the captain has admitted to not complying with an inspection.
date: 2026-02-14 02:00:00
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