The vessel did not respond to requests to identify itself and tried to escape. An on-board inspection revealed a 38-ton catch of live crabs without documents certifying its legality.
The trawler, which had a crew consisting of Russian nationals, is being convoyed to the port of Magadan for further inquiry. The catch has been released.
Russian authorities have been involved in several disputes in recent years over fishing rights in its Far East waters.
In August, the captain of a Japanese vessel was arrested near the Kuril Islands off Russia's Pacific Coast in an incident in which one of his crewmates was shot and killed by Russian coast guards.
Russian officials said the vessel was suspected of illegally fishing for valuable crab in Russian waters, and that coast guards had fired warning shots only after it refused to stop.
