The Russian trawler “Izumrud” was arrested in the fisheries protection zone near the Svalbard archipelago on Saturday morning and escorted to the port of Tromsø, Norway, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation reports. The trawler had been filmed by a Norwegian Coast Guard helicopter while flushing fish overboard.
The captain denies having being involved in this serious act of environmental crime. The case is under investigation by the police in Tromsø.
“Izumrud” was arrested by Norwegian coast guard also in 2004 and given a 750.000 NOK fine (app 94.500 EUR) for poaching.
In the beginning of May 2010 the Murmansk trawler ”Viking” was arrested on suspicion of poaching and dumping of fish in the fisheries protection zone.
Read also: Russian trawler released - owner rejects accusations on poaching
The fisheries protection zone near the Svalbard archipelago was established by Norway in 1977 to ensure the protection and sound management of the living resources, since this is one of the most important nursery areas for important fish stocks.
Read more about the fisheries protection zone around Svalbard on the Norwegian Government’s web pages.
