Japan seizes SKorean crab boat

Published Feb. 25, 2011 at 12:32 pm

A small Kenyan navy boat escorts the South Korean fishing vessel Keummi 305 as it sails through the Likoni channel Tuesday Feb. 15, 2011, after being held for four months by Somali pirates. South Korea's foreign ministry said 39 Kenyans, two South Koreans and two Chinese sailors were aboard the Keummi 305. The 241-ton Kenya-registered trawler was attacked on Oct. 9 in the waters off Kenya's Lamu Island while fishing for crabs.

Photo by AP

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese authorities have arrested a South Korean crab boat captain for alleged illegal fishing inside Japan's exclusive economic waters.

Japan’s fisheries officials said Friday that they seized the boat for inspection off the Oki Islands, 100 miles (170 kilometers) southwest of outcroppings between Japan and the Korean peninsula that Tokyo and Seoul both claim.

The 44-year-old captain was arrested after investigators confirmed he was the captain of the same boat that fled after being spotted in the same waters in March 2010.

The captain was released later Friday with his boat and eight crew members after paying a fine of 3 million yen ($36,700).