craft regularly and monitoring fishing vessels in the waters near the outer limit of the territorial sea Russia claims east of Hokkaido, during periods when seizures are expected.
(2) Ships Seized in Other Sea Areas
In 1995, foreign governments seized a total of seven Japanese vessels (79 persons captured), including two vessels (36 persons captured) by the U.S. and one vessel (15 persons captured) by the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, for reasons such as conducting commercial fishing operations within their fishing zone and territorial sea.
All seized fishing vessels and crew members were returned.
II. Maintaining Legal Order at Sea
1. Violations of Maritime Laws
In 1995, there were 4,509 cases of violations of laws related to maritime affairs that were sent to the prosecutor's office.
2. Violations of Fishery Laws
(1) Japanese Commercial Fishing
In 1995, there were 1,794 cases of violations of laws related to fisheries that were sent to the prosecutor's office. Almost all the cases involved poaching, that is, unauthorized commercial fishing operations or conducting commercial fishing activities during off-season periods.
(2) Foreign Commercial Fishing
In 1995, there were 18 cases of violations of laws related to commercial fishing by foreigners that were sent to the prosecutor's office.
3. Penal Offenses
In 1995, there were 1,341 cases of violations, on the sea, of the Penal Code that were sent to the prosecutor's office. The types of crimes, in order of frequency, is as follows: 1,139 cases of obstructing traffic through negligence in the conduct of occupation, accounting for the majority (84.8%) of crimes; followed by 103 cases of injury or death through negligence in the conduct of occupation; 42 cases of homicide or bodily injury, 18 cases of larceny or robbery; 11 cases of forgery of documents.
