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Russian embassy asks Senegal to explain detention of Russian trawler

MOSCOW, January 06, 15:59 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s embassy has addressed to Senegal’s Foreign Ministry with a request to explain detention of Russia’s fishing trawler, the Oleg Naidenov, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

“In cooperation with representatives of the Russian federal fisheries agency in Dakar our diplomats are taking further steps for the soonest possible release of the trawler and its sailing,” the ministry said.

“Diplomats from the Russian embassy in Dakar visited the trawler and met with the captain and the crew. The state of Russian sailors’ health is normal. The vessel has everything necessary for life,” the ministry added.

The Oleg Naidenov suspected of illegal fishing within Senegalese waters was seized 46 miles of Guinea-Bissau on Saturday with 82 crew onboard, including 62 Russians and 20 citizens of Guinea-Bissau, and convoyed to the port of Dakar on Sunday.

Senegalese Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Haidar El-Ali said on Sunday Senegal would seize the trawler and impose a maximum fine of nearly 305,000 euros for the offence. But because the Oleg Naydenov is a repeat offender, it “will be fined twice as much, up to 610,000 euros,” he said. The vessel’s cargo is estimated at approximately $540,000.

The Oleg Naidenov is owned by private company Fenix, registered in Murmansk, the extreme northwest part of Russia. It is a big fishing boat of Moonzund type, 120 meters long, built in Germany in 1989.