Suoao Fishing Vessel Detained in Japanese Waters Released After Paying 630,000 TWD
The Suoao-registered fishing vessel 'Hongcaitou No. 6' was detained on May 20 for allegedly illegally entering Japanese waters. The captain and five crew members were also taken into custody.
The Fisheries Agency reported on May 21 that after negotiations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a bond was posted, and the captain was safely released and returned to the vessel.
The 'Hongcaitou No. 6' was detained by the Japan Fisheries Agency around 9 a.m. on the 20th. The Suoao Fishermen's Association maintained communication with the vessel owner to monitor the situation. The owner informed them that after paying a guarantee of 630,000 TWD, all six crew members and the vessel were released at around 1:10 p.m. on the 21st and returned to Suoao that evening.
According to the Fisheries Agency, the 'Hongcaitou No. 6' was located at 24 degrees 16.67 minutes north and 122 degrees 43.25 minutes east when it was inspected, and the captain was taken from the vessel for questioning. Further negotiations by the Fisheries Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led to the captain's eventual release.
The vessel owner holds a valid recreational fishing license and set out from the Nanfangao Fishing Port in Yilan on the 19th to conduct operations involving longline and trolling fishing, and is not engaged in recreational fishing.
Further investigation by the Fisheries Agency revealed that the fishing vessel experienced communication loss around 2 a.m. on the 20th while approaching Taiwan's provisional enforcement line, and was subsequently inspected by a Japanese patrol vessel around 8 a.m., at which point the captain was taken for questioning and the vessel was towed to a Japanese port.
The Fisheries Agency was informed and immediately coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the release of the crew and vessel. On the morning of the 21st, they posted a bond of 3,570,000 yen (approximately 630,000 TWD), and the Japanese authorities released the 'Hongcaitou No. 6' at around 1 p.m., as it is currently en route back to Taiwan.
