MURMANSK, January 06, 15:41 /ITAR-TASS/. Senegal’s commission has exposed no violation while inspecting Russia’s trawler, the Oleg Naidenov, seized for illegal fishing within Senegalese waters on Saturday.
There were no remarks in an inspection report handed over to the trawler’s captain in the presence of a representative of the Russian federal fisheries agency, executive director of Fenix, a company owning the trawler, Yuri Parshev, told Itar-Tass on Monday.
“Senegal’s specialists had inspected the vessel, documents, record books, permits and cargo,” he said. “There were no remarks, what meant the lack of violations. We are waiting for the final say of the Senegalese authorities on January 7.”
Later on Monday a representative of the Russian federal fisheries agency will meet with Senegal’s minister of fishing and maritime affairs. On Tuesday, the Russian ambassador to Senegal is expected to meet with Senegalese President Macky Sall.
Parshev said cargo remained in the trawler’s holds. The vessel’s power supply was not switched off, therefore all freezing equipment continued to work. The trawler owner had received no official notifications so far.
The Oleg Naidenov was seized 46 miles of Guinea-Bissau with 82 crew onboard, including 62 Russians and 20 citizens of Guinea-Bissau. The trawler was 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, 120 meters long, built in Germany in 1989.