Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Russian border guards detain foreign vessel for alleged poaching

RIA Novosti
09/ 02/ 2009

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, February 9 (RIA Novosti) - A foreign vessel flying a Cambodian flag has been detained on suspicion of poaching of crab in the Pacific Ocean, near Russia's largest island of Sakhalin, a regional coast guard spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The vessel with 10 Russian and five Indonesian crew members had some 900 kilograms of live crab on board when it was stopped in the Tatar Strait, a channel dividing mainland Russia and Sakhalin Island.

"There were no documents permitting fishing in the territorial waters of Russia. The detained vessel is being escorted to the port of Nevelsk for further investigation," the spokeswoman said.
Last year, Russia launched a crackdown on the illegal export of crab and other seafood. At least 20 boats, including several foreign vessels, were detained by Russia last year.

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