A Chinese fishing boat was detained by Japanese authorities on Thursday for unauthorized fishing in waters around Nagasaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan, Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka told Xinhua.

The boat, registered in east China's Zhejiang Province, was detained at around 2:07 p.m. local time in the exclusive economic waters near Goto City in Nagasaki.

There were eight crew members, all Chinese nationals, on board when the boat was caught.

The captain, Jiang Yufen, was taken to Japanese patrol vessel for questioning and will be transferred to Hakata port in Fukuoka Prefecture. Other crew members and the boat are still in the waters where the incident happened.

The consulate has urged Japanese side to ensure the safety of the Chinese sailors and will visit the captain when he arrived at Hakata.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2013)