The drama unfolded in October, when the Norwegian Coast Guard service pursued the Elektron trawler across the Barents Sea for five days.
The vessel refused to follow Norwegian orders October 15 to go to a port to be checked for alleged fishing violations, and fled into Russian waters with two Norwegian inspectors on board.
Valery Yarantsev told journalists before the trial that in similar circumstances he would do the same thing again.
"I think it is better not to admit inspectors aboard," he said. "Had I not admitted the Norwegian inspectors, I would not now be on trial."
Yarantsev said that under international law, Russian sailors have the right to not admit inspectors aboard their ships.
He said that under a 1920 agreement signed by 48 countries, including Russia, they have equal fishing rights near the Spitsbergen Archipelago.
"Since 1977, Norway has been seeking rights to this area that contradict all international rules," he said.
Yarantsev said the incident with his trawler was planned beforehand, and was timed to coincide with a session of the Russian-Norwegian fisheries commission.
