Chinese skipper avoids jail term in Japan coral poaching case

Sink the boat of the poachers in your waters. Nothing going to change otherwise. Plus corals thrive on sunken ships.

Just a slap on the wrist. But then again, the punishment should fit this "so-called" crime.

What would the punishment be for poaching pandas, I wonder.

I smell political influence in this ruling! AS with : cracaphatMAR. "Simply a case of Japan kow-towing to China."

"If you are knowingly killing endangered species, I think the death penalty is not too harsh. Disgraceful, Japan."

What ? If that was an option, the whole population of Japan would be on death row for eating blue fin tuna.

Yeah thats right JT ... delete my post but leave the anti Chinese, right wingers post up, who believes that the death penalty is too good for them. We know wich side of the fence you stand on.

Moderator: There is no fence. There is no anti-Chinese, rightwinger post.

What happens at this point. They hold him until the fine is paid or they hope he pays after he disappears back into China?

Sink the boat of the poachers in your waters. Nothing going to change otherwise. Plus corals thrive on sunken ships.

After removing the fuel and anything else that can act as a pollutant, it should be standard operating procedure.

After paying the fine for poaching (and jail time), the "skipper" can be invoiced for costs involved.

And the crew. I doubt they were forced, and their participation is also a crime.

Too little, too late. The sea bed around the Ogasawaras has been raped already, and the profits have been made..

Its interesting that red corral is prized for jewelery in china I didn't know that

Poaching a natural resource such as red coral seems to carry a light penalty. Would the poaching of a chinese natural resource by Japanese poacher also result in such a light penalty? I think not.

Not good. There must be a strong deterrent for poachers. Any Chinese poacher should be aware that he can loose all his money, his ship and his freedom, otherwise the Ogasawara corals are doomed. And what message this decision will send?

If only keelhauling were still a thing.

Beijing knows these are petty crimes if "crimes" at all. Beijing is literally testing the waters. This is bait- to escalate maritime tensions. Knowing the weak authorities & judges, they will keep fishing. Look for more suspended sentences and cheap fines in future related news.

Weak penalty, judge = 'enabler'.

JAPAN better smarten up in the court rooms!!!!!!!

If only keelhauling were still a thing.

Ha!

With the screws still turning?

"Last month, Japanese authorities said they had laid coral-poaching charges against crew from a record 16 Chinese vessels in 2014.

The maximum fine for poaching in territorial waters tripled in November to 30 million yen."

There are Japanese coral gathering boats as well. Are they poaching or do they have a legal quota? Check out some of the fishing ports or tourist sights in Shikoku that sell coral jewelry and cuff links or necklaces or art. Always wondered about that. Some fishermen sell them little by little to Chinese buyers to supplement or replace their fishing income.