According to the Fisheries Agency of Japan the Yungsheng No. 106 from Suao was released yesterday morning after the captain of the vessel signed an agreement to pay US$5,175 to Miyako Islands’ fisheries authorities as a guarantee for his presence when the Japanese court holds a hearing on the incident.
The Japanese coast guard vessel Nobaru has chased and rammed the Taiwanese boat and caught it red handed fishing illegally in its waters. The boat has been relapsed and it is said to leave Miyako Islands later yesterday after minor repairs, informed the Fisheries Agency officials.
It is told that seized boat has two Taiwanese, a Chinese and six Filipinos and were safe. It is told that the Yungsheng No. 106 is expected to arrive in Suao. The Fisheries Agency opined that the boat was ordered by the Japanese coast guard to stop for an inspection when it was plying the waters near Miyako Islands, about 300km southwest of Okinawa early on Saturday.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official stationed in Okinawa headed to the island on Sunday to gain a better understanding of the incident. Fisheries Agency Director-General James Sha informed that the official asked the Japanese coast guard to produce evidence to back its claims that the vessel was fishing in Japanese waters and asked Japan to release the boat and its crew.
