Japan's Fishing Around Russia - Held Island Begins Two Weeks Late
Japanese fishers have started this season's operations to catch Okhotsk Atka mackerel in waters around Kunashiri Island two weeks behind schedule. Kunashiri is one of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.
Gillnet mackerel fishing around the island began Friday, although it was originally scheduled for September 16.
In June, Russia suspended the implementation of a 1998 agreement with Japan that allows Japanese fishing boats to operate safely near the four islands. Russia controls the four islands. Japan claims them.
Moscow made the move on the grounds that Japan has frozen its aid payments for a cooperative project with the state of Sakhalin.
Under the 1998 agreement, the two nations hold negotiations each year to agree on the fishing period, total catch size and the fees to be paid by the Japanese side. The agreement mainly covers walleye pollock, Okhotsk Atka mackerel and octopus.
Japanese and Russian officials took more time to wrap up their negotiations this year due to suspension of the agreement.
Nine fishing boats departed from Rausu Town in Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido early on Friday.
One Japanese fisher said before his departure that he wants a large catch of Okhotsk Atka mackerel and hopes that everything will be okay.
Japanese fishing operations are scheduled to continue through late December.