The Chinese Consulate General in Japan's Fukuoka confirmed Tuesday that a Chinese fishing boat was detained by Japanese authorities for alleged illegal fishing in the waters near Okinawa.

The boat, which registered in east China's Zhejiang Province, was taken to Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture along with its skipper at around 6:30 p.m. local time, according to the consulate.

The consulate sent an official to visit the skipper, who said he committed unauthorized fishing in Japan's exclusive economic waters.

The Japanese side agreed to release the captain and his boat after he pays a bail of about 4 million yen ($43,000), said the consulate.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2013)