TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese fishing boat was boarded by the Japanese coast guard on Friday (July 5).

The Taiwan Coast Guard said the Fuyang 226 (福洋266號) fishing boat was intercepted just over 500 km off Taiwan’s north coast at 1 a.m. on Friday, per CNA.

The vessel’s Taiwanese captain and two crew members were taken onboard a Japanese boat for questioning. Six Indonesian fishers were left aboard the Taiwanese boat during the investigation.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry issued a statement at around noon that said it and the Taiwan representative office in Japan have asked the Japanese authorities to release the fishers as soon as possible. 

The Coast Guard issued a press release just before 7 a.m. and said it had dispatched vessels to monitor the incident. It said the Fuyang 226 was suspected of trying to enter the waters around Japan’s Anami Oshima Island, where fishing is prohibited.

The Coast Guard said the Fisheries Agency is working with Japanese authorities concerning the case.