Russia’s Border Service has Detained Five Trawlers in the Far East for Poaching

Russia’s border service have detained five trawlers, crewed by Russian nationals, suspected of poaching crab in the Sea of Okhotsk, a spokesman for the local border guards department said on Monday.

One of the trawlers, sailing under the Cambodian flag, was carrying 45 metric tons of live crab without the correct documentation when it was stopped. Border service personnel discovered equipment used for catching crab on the other four trawlers - one owned by a Russian company and three others also sailing under Cambodian colors.

All of the ship’s captains failed to produce appropriate licenses. All boats are currently being accompanied to Russian ports.

This year, Russia has launched a crackdown on the illegal export of crab and other seafood. In May 2007, Russia banned the export of live crab, but large volumes continue to be smuggled out of the country, primarily to Japan and South Korea.

Since January, Russian border guards have released over 246,000 live crabs back to the sea, estimated as being worth over 170 million rubles ($6.3 million).

Source RIA Novosti

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