A Taiwanese captain has been released after his fishing vessel was
intercepted by Japan's Fisheries Agency yesterday.

His Keelung-registered vessel, the "Fu Yang No. 266," was suspected of
operating near Amami Oshima.

A spokesperson for Taiwan's representative office in Japan said the captain
was released and returned to his fishing boat...

...at around 7 o'clock last night local time, about 30 minutes after the
ship's owner in Taiwan paid a fine...

...amounting to more than $37,000 dollars US.

Taiwan's Coast Guard says the fishing vessel was intercepted yesterday
morning...

...1.5 nautical miles past a "designated enforcement line" near Amami
Oshima...

...about 160 kilometers northeast of Okinawa.

Taiwan's fishing boats are not allowed to operate beyond that line.

The enforcement line is one of several negotiated by Taiwan and Japan...

...to prevent Taiwanese and Japanese fishing boats from battling over the
same fishing grounds.