Russia frees Japanese seamen detained for poaching

VLADIVOSTOK, February 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia on Saturday released a Japanese fishing vessel, detained in Russian waters in late January for alleged crab poaching, a spokeswoman for the local border guards department said.

The vessel was released on a bail of 5.6 million rubles ($156,000). On Thursday, Hiyoshi Suisan, the company that owns the vessel, said an agreement had been reached with the Russian authorities concerning the sum of the bail and fine, and the money was transferred to Russia.

"After clearing all port formalities, the Japanese schooner will leave the port of Nakhodka and the Russian territory," Natalya Rondalyova said.

The crabbing vessel, Yoshi Maru No. 38, was intercepted by the Russian Coast Guard on January 27 near the northern coast of the Noto Peninsula on suspicion of illegal fishing in what Russia calls its exclusive economic zone.

A catch of crabs was found onboard, and the ship's captain had no documentation proving the ship had permission to catch crab in the area, so the vessel was escorted to Russia's Far Eastern port of Nakhodka.