Fujian sends 4 held over illegal fishing back to Taiwan

The Fujian Provincial Coast Guard has released four Taiwan sailors, who had been detained for illegal fishing activities, and sent them back to Taiwan on Tuesday.

The provincial authority said in a news release that it seized a Taiwan-registered fishing vessel, which was carrying 1,335 kilograms of aquatic animals, on July 2 off the coast of Quanzhou and detained five sailors onboard the boat for illegal fishing.

The coast guard opened an investigation and found four among them were involved in minor offense. It decided not to prosecute them and arranged their return to Taiwan, according to the release.

Another sailor is still under investigation, it noted.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that authorities concerned on the mainland attach great importance to protecting fishery resources and maintaining order in relevant waters.

"The mainland's coast guard does its jobs according to related laws, and at the same time protects the legitimate rights and interests of sailors," she said.