Japan, Russia sign fishing deal despite Ukraine tensions

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpTOKYO Reuters – Japan and Russia struck a deal on Tokyo‘s fishing quota to catch salmon and trout born in Russian rivers, Japan’s fisheries agency said on Saturday, despite worsening ties over the crisis in Ukraine.p

pWith RussoJapanese relations unravelling, the fate of annual talks between the two governments this year overshadowed the livelihood of Japanese fishermen in northern regions around disputed islands.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

pBut the two countries agreed on Japan‘s quota of 2,050 tons in salmon and trout within its own exclusive economic zone for this year, the same level as last year, and that Japan would pay fees to Russia between 200 million yen 1.56 million and 300 million yen, depending on the actual catch, according to Japan’s fisheries agency.p

pAnnual fishing negotiations kicked off this month with tensions between Tokyo and Moscow simmering. p

pSince Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, Japan imposed a series of sanctions against Moscow, expelling several diplomats and ending Russia’s mostfavourednation status. p

pIn response to Tokyos sanctions, Russia, calling its actions in Ukraine a “special operation,” pulled out of stalled peace talks with Japan and froze joint economic projects.p

p1 128.5600 yenp

pp Reporting by Jumin Park and Yoshifumi Takemoto in Tokyo Editing by Matthew Lewisp

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