RUSSIA HOLDS UKRAINIAN, BULGARIAN POACHING SHIPS IN SEA OF AZOV








STAVROPOL, MARCH 10, 2001. /from RIA Novosti's Valeri Oliyanchuk/ - The Albatross, an Ukrainian fishing vessel registered with the Berdyansk port, was detained yesterday in Russian territorial waters in the Sea of Azov, north of the Black Sea, with which it is linked by the Kerch Strait.


	The Albatross was apprehended in trawling by Russia's Yugra patrol ship. As her search team boarded the poaching vessel, it found a trawl, two tonnes of freshly-caught pike-perch and a tonne of sturgeon. After impromptu hearings, the Albatross was passed to Ukrainian authorities in compliance with a bilateral agreement.


	Another vessel, flying the Ukrainian flag and registered in Mariupol, was stopped the same day 15 miles off the Russian coast with a dry trawl on board. One of the crew of seven had no identity papers. The captain was ordered to urgently return to port, reports the press service of Russia's Federal Frontier Service North Caucasian regional board.


	Another ship searched yesterday, Bulgaria's big trawler Saturn, had a 23 tonne catch on board with no fishing license and no permit to enter the Sea of Azov. All 44 crew members are Russian nationals. An investigation is on. The Saturn captain can be called to account for poaching in Russian territorial waters.