The Law of the Sea tribunal in Germany ruled August 6, that Russia return the trawler to Japan and slashed the fine imposed by Russia from 22 to 10 million rubles (about $392,000). Russia said it would return the vessel as soon as the sum had been transferred.
The Hoshin Maru-88 was stopped by Russian coast guards on suspicion of illegal fishing, and was found to have exceeded its legally permitted catch by 14 metric tons during an inspection.
In a separate incident a press spokesman for the coast guard on Sakhalin Island said that the Zuisho Maru-38, a Japanese schooner detained for poaching in January, would be handed back to its owners Tuesday.
The Zuisho Maru-38 was stopped near Kunashir Island, off Russia's Pacific Coast, for illegal fishing. Captain Kawabata Takashi was found guilty, fined around $12,000 and handed over to Japanese authorities. The boat owners were also fined more than $19,000 for violating customs laws.
Russian authorities have been involved in several disputes in recent years over fishing rights in its Pacific waters, particularly with Japanese vessels.
In August 2006, the captain of a Japanese ship was detained near the Kuril Islands off Russia's Pacific Coast in an incident where one of his crewmates was shot and killed by Russian coast guards.
