Russian poaching schooner detained off Sakhalin Island.

17/12 Tass 86

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, December 17 (Itar-Tass) - The Hose Maru-18 poaching
schooner that tried to bring abroad 8.5 tonnes of sea urchin, was detained
off Sakhalin Island last night.
The public relations group of the Sakhalin coastguard agency accused
the ship captain of smuggling and an attempt at illegal crossing of the
Russian state border.
On December 16, 2009, while watching the situation in the area,
borderguards spotted the Hose Maru-18 schooner (Nevelsk port of
registration), sailing out of Mordvinov Bay with an evident intention to
leave Russian territorial waters. The schooner was not registered with
borderguards and customs officers.
A coastguard ship was dispatched to the area of supposed crossing of
the Russian state border by the vessel. The schooner was stopped last
night for inspection in the Russian exclusive economic zone south of Cape
Aniva.
Borderguards found 8.5 tonnes of sea urchin aboard the ship. The
schooner had no documents, confirming legality of its fishing.
Investigation is in progress against the poaching vessel.
-0-bur/gor