Fishing Boat Captured in Diplomatic Impasse

Russian Border Patrol captured a Japanese fishing boat, which was carrying excessive amount of salmon, within Russian excusive economic zone on Friday. It was obviously a demonstration of strict application of new regulation policy for fishing in Northern Pacific starting next year. Reflecting deteriorated situation with the Western nations over Ukraine or other sensitive issues, Russia looks sober in the relation with Japan. Nevertheless, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe still expects a major breakthrough in bilateral relationship with Russia this year. This is an isolated diplomacy.

In the fishing in Russian EEZ, quota for each boat is strictly limited. The captured boat, #10 Hoko, was carrying 26,962 kilograms of sockeye salmon, the most valuable kind of salmon in Japanese market, exceeding the limitation by 472 kilograms. Russian Border Patrol made inspection on #10 Hoko on the ocean 50 kilometers east of Nemuro City, the most Eastern city in mainland of Japan, on its way to Nemuro Hanasaki Port and found false fishery.

#10 Hoko was supposed to be brought to a port in Japan’s Northern Territory controlled by Russian government and would be posed a penalty of ¥500 thousand for the violation. Eleven crews, mainly living in the cities in Hokkaido, were also brought by Russian officials with their boats.

It was the first time in these eleven years for a Japanese boat for salmon fishing to be captured by Russian government. Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent Russian government an objection against the capture and demanded immediate release of #10 Hoko and its crews. Japanese Coast Guard had no communication with #10 Hoko after the boat was captured, but they believe the crews would be alive.

There was a rumor among the salmon fishermen that Russian Border Patrol had been laying stricter regulation over Japanese fishing boats after Russian Parliament passed a law to ban floating net for salmon fishery this year. Crews of some other fishing boats witnessed that military battle ships were deployed for the regulation of salmon fishing. It was likely that Russian Patrol was serious in inspection to justify their decision. Bribe no longer works. While Japanese fishermen were careful about it, #10 Hoko was not well prepared.

The Russians knew that stricter regulation might deteriorate the economic relation with Japan. But, it did not matter for them. Internal pressure for conserving natural resources was getting stronger against Russian government. For Russian government, Japan is a member of concerted sanction against Russia over Ukraine crisis and not an object to take a soft approach. Although Abe wants to have moderate relationship with Russia, it is unlikely that only Japan and Russia can be a friend in this complicated international politics.