The Chinese Consulate has confirmed that two Chinese fishing ships have been detained off Russia's Far-East Primorsky region.

The consulate says one ship is carrying 17 fishermen while the other has 19 on board, adding both ships are from Weihai City in east China's Shandong province.

The coastal service of Russia's Far-East region says the two ships have been seized because they entered Russia's exclusive economic zone.

According to RIA Novosti state news agency, a Russian coast guard vessel fired warning shots and then opened targeted fire to stop the Chinese fishing ships. The news agency says none of the fishermen have been harmed in the incident.