Russia seizes five fishing boats off coast

Russian coastal authorities have seized five fishing boats off the country’s eastern coast, at least one of which is thought to be Japanese, a news report said today.

The boats were seized yesterday over suspicion of illegal fishing in the Sea of Okhotsk, Kyodo News agency reported, quoting the Russian news service Interfax.

At least one of the boats is believed to be Japanese, Kyodo said. The report did not identify the nationality of the other vessels.

Japan Coast Guard spokesman Takatoshi Nagasaki said his agency was gathering information on the report.