Coast Guard Seizes Japanese Fishermen

The U.S. Coast Guard seized two Japanese fishing boats and accused their crews of illegally fishing in American territorial waters.

The masters of both vessels signed statements admitting they were fishing inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, in the northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth, Coast Guard spokesman John Moss said.

But the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the boats were fishing in international waters, 190 miles southeast of the island of Minami Iwojima when they were seized on Friday.

They are accused of violating a 1976 law meant to protect marine resources by restricting foreign fishing within 200 miles of any U.S. territory, Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Rick Meidt said in Washington.