JUROS VILKAS

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Latest news

Trawler detained for illegal fishing has been released

The "Jūros Vilkas" which was detained for illegal fishing, has left the Murmansk port and entered Norway territorial waters. On Jan 26, 2014, a court found the ship's captain guilty of breaching a clause in the Russian administrative legislation for extraction of biological resources at sea. The captain had to pay a penalty, and seven tons of crab caught illegally had to be destroyed. The Russian coastguard had seized the ship with illegal catches of snow crabs on Sep 18. The captain still had tried to escape to the Norwegian economic zone, but his ship was accompanied to Murmansk on Sep 22.

Russia accused of violating international maritime laws

Russia has been accused by Lithuania of violating international maritime laws after seizing the "Juros Vilkas" with a crew of 30. The EU protested earlier over the incident on Sep 18, saying Russian border guards had conducted a "forced apprehension" of the vessel which was detained in Murmansk awaiting a court ruling. The "Juros Vilkas" has been in international waters when it was seized in the Barents Sea according to satellite data. The European Union called on Russia to respect its international obligations and to immediately release the vessel. Officials had raised the issue with the Russian ambassador to the bloc. A Russian court will decide on Oct 7 whether to release the vessel. The crew, which included Lithuanian and Russian nationals, had not been detained and was still on board.

EU Condemns Russian Arrest of Lithuanian Fishing Vessel

The European Union appealed to Russian authorities demanding the immediate release of Lithuanian fishing boat Juros Vilkas, detained in the Barents Sea on suspicion of poaching. In a posted statement, the EU External Action Service commented on situation: “We are concerned by the forced apprehension of the Lithuanian fishing vessel “J?ros Vilkas” by Russian border guards in high seas waters of the Barents Sea on 18 September, the subsequent detention of the vessel and its crew, as well as its forceful towing to Russian territory. The European Union calls on Russia to respect its international obligations and to immediately release the vessel. The EU also calls on Russia to refrain from any action in contravention of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea vis-à-vis fishing vessels flying the flag of a Member State of the EU. The matter has been raised with the Russian Ambassador to the EU.” The Lithuanian-flagged Juros Vilkas was detained by Russian border guards on September 18 and delivered to the port of Murmansk. According to the FSB Public Relations Center, the ship carried out illegal fishing in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation. About 15 tons of crab were found on board the vessel.