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Taiwanese boat released after being detained by Japan

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/21 19:43:05

Taipei, May 21 (CNA) A Taiwanese fishing boat was released after being detained by the Japanese authorities early Tuesday in waters near Japan's Ishigaki Island for trespass, according to Taiwan's Fisheries Agency.

The boat and its crew were released after the family of the boat's owner paid 4.3 million Japanese yen (NT$1.2 million) to cover the cost of bail and fines, the agency said.

The 37.07-ton Jui Ming Fa out of Liouciou Township in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, was caught operating in waters 41 nautical miles east of Ishigaki, according to the Liouciou Fishermen's Association.

The location was 17 nautical miles beyond a 'temporary law enforcement line' delineating where Taiwanese fishermen can and cannot operate, the association said.

Although Ishigaki Island is located within Taiwan's 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, the law enforcement line agreed to by Taiwan and Japan bars Taiwanese fishermen from operating in waters near the Yaeyama Island chain, which includes Ishigaki.

It is the second time a Taiwanese fishing boat has been stopped by Japanese authorities since the two countries signed an agreement April 10 to deal with fishing rights in waters surrounding the disputed Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea.

(By Kuo Chih-hsuan, Y.F. Low, Yang Shu-min and Elaine Hou)
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