Russia to suspend Japan's seaweed harvesting outside Kuril Signalny Island on July 15 - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. July 12 (Interfax) - Russia will suspend Japan's seaweed harvesting outside the Signalny Island of the Lesser Kuril Chain on July 15 for lighthouse repairs, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry website said that Japanese fishermen are harvesting seaweed in the Russian territorial sea outside the Signalny Island of the Lesser Kuril Chain under the bilateral agreement of 1981.

"A short time ago, the Japanese side requested information through diplomatic channels in Moscow and Tokyo regarding the 'power outage' at the island's lighthouse. There were no malfunction reports from other actors navigating the area," the ministry said.

Japan "demanded" that Russia resume stable lighthouse operation "for safe navigation, including seaweed harvesting by Japanese fishermen in that area," it said.

"Seeking to prevent possible incidents, Russia has therefore decided to suspend Japan's harvesting outside the Signalny Island on July 15 until the end of the planned lighthouse maintenance," the ministry said.