Captain sentenced, fined for unlawful crab

17.10.2011 11:12:59 (GMT+12)

The Russian captain of the Monblank fishing vessel flying the Cambodian flag was conditionally sentenced to three years and a fine of 300 thousand rubles (US$ 10,000) for unlawful transportation of crab in Russian territorial waters, Kamchatka prosecutors said on Friday. He was also banned for two years to work as captain on Russian and foreign vessels.

The Monblank was spotted by coast guards in the Sea of Okhotsk in January, but refused to stop for inspection and tried to escape. However the vessel was detained after a military aircraft joined the pursuit.

The vessel with 17 Russian crewmembers onboard carried over 41 tons of live crab without any fishing or transportation permission. The damage was estimated at 7.7 million rubles and charged on the ship owner.

(Itar-Tass).