Politics

21:12, 13.08.2007 | Far East Russia

A local court in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy in Russia's Far East region ordered Friday the owner of the Japanese fishing boat Hoshin Maru No. 88, which has been seized by Russia, to pay about 2.14 million rubles, or about 9.9 million yen, for conducting illegal fishing in Russia's exclusive economic zone.

The sum comprises an administrative penalty, damages payment and investigation costs. Aside from this trial, the Russian authorities may also hold a criminal trial over the illegal fishing. On Monday, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered Russia to return the Japanese fishing boat and all 17 crew members seized, while ordering Japan to pay Russia 10 million rubles, equivalent to some 46 million yen.