Three Cambodian vessels seized for poaching in Russia's Far East

15/ 12/ 2008
RIA Novosti (Russia)

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, December 15 (RIA Novosti) - Border guards have detained three Cambodian vessels in Russia's Far East Sea of Okhotsk for poaching crab, a regional coast guard chief said on Monday.

Around 70 tons of crab were seized from the trawlers, said Alexander Lebedev, the head of the Northeast Frontier Coast Guard department of the Federal Security Service (FSB).

One of the trawlers attempted to flee but was finally caught after a two-hour chase when border guards fired warning shots, he said. No one was injured during the operation.

The trawlers are to be taken to a port in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for further investigation.

This year, Russia has launched a crackdown on the illegal export of crab and other seafood. Since January, Russia's border guards have returned to the sea more than 246,000 live crabs, with an estimated commercial value of over 170 million rubles ($6.1 million).

Ship flying Cambodian flag detained off Kamchatka for poaching [-Another flag of shame case!]

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, November 3 (Itar-Tass) - A refrigerated cargo ship flying the Cambodian flag was detained in the Sea of Okhotsk off the Kamchatka coast for poaching, the press service of the Russian Federal Security Service’s north-east coastguard department told Itar-Tass on Monday.

The Magadanest patrol vessel stopped the cargo ship in the fishing area on October 31. Coastal guards found 45 tonnes of live crab onboard as well as over 3 tonnes of Alaska pollack, herring and squid in refrigerators. The captain of the detained vessel provided no fishing permit.

The ship is registered at the port of Phnom Penh. The crew includes only Russian citizens. A case on administrative violations was instituted against the captain.

Live crab was thrown back into the sea. The ship will be tugged to the port of Petropavlosk-Kamchatsky for further investigation.

[Another] Ship flying Cambodia flag detained in Sea of Okhotsk

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, June 26 (Itar-Tass) - Russian border guards have detained the Star-4 ship of Cambodia for crab poaching in the Sea of Okhotsk near the Kamchatka coast.

The vessel was being escorted to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky port, Itar-Tass learnt on Thursday in the public relations group of the Northeast coast guard department of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).

It has been established that the crew of the trawler registered in the port of Phnom Penh consists of Russian citizens. Border guars have found over 10 tonnes of crab products aboard the vessel. “The authenticity of the documentation on the products caused serious doubts of the inspectors,” the department officials noted.

The vessel with the whole equipment has been arrested. An administrative offence case has been opened against the captain of the ship.