Russian MFA expresses grave concern over Svalbard detentions

Foreign Ministry of Russia is not happy about the recent detention of Russian trawler Melkart-2 by Norwegian coastal guard around Svalbard.

The charges against Melkart-2 are not based on evidence and do not justify the escorting of the ship to a Norwegian port, says MFA.

The Norwegian Chargé d'Affaires ad interim has received a notice of concern in regard to the arrest of the Russian trawler Melkart-2 detained on July 22 in the fisheries protection zone of Norway.

The MFA expressed its grave concern to Mr. Bord Svendsen regarding the recent detention. MFA underlined that Russia still does not recognize the so-called fisheries protection zone around Svalbard and finds it unacceptable for Norway to detain Russian fishing vessels in that area.

According to the MFA’s statement, the allegations against Melkart-2 have no weighty evidence. The vessel should not have been escorted to the Norwegian port of Tromso for legal proceedings as the Russian crew had demonstrated their willingness to cooperate with Norwegian inspectors on the spot.

Melkart-2 was arrested by Norwegian Coast Guard on July 22 on accusations of fish dumping. Norwegian inspectors claimed the dumping had been videotaped. The Russians claimed a few fishes were dumped from the conveyor belt unintentionally and that is “a natural part of the process”.

The penalty is 450.000 NOK (apprx 61.000 EUR).  As the vessel daily processes 12-15 tonnes of fish fillet, the downtime losses would exceed the imposed penalty. Bank guarantees were presented to release the vessel shortly. After the videotape is properly examined, a vessel owner will either pay the fine or appeal against the court.

Melkart-2 is owned by a Murmansk-based fishing company – OOO Murmansk SeaFood.

Similar situation occurred in late September 2011 when Russian trawler Sapfir-2 (registered in the port of Murmansk) was arrested by the Norway’s Coast Guard.
 
Norway chose in 1977 until further notice to establish a 200-mile fisheries protection zone rather than a full economic zone, reads the website of the Norwegian Government. As a coastal State, Norway has the right under the modern law of the sea to establish a 200-mile economic zone around the archipelago and to exercise fisheries jurisdiction in the zone. In accordance with the existing law of the sea, vessels and nationals of other states that are fishing in the Fisheries Protection Zone must comply with the management measures and conditions set out in the legislation and regulatory measures of the coastal State and must comply with that State’s enforcement measures.
 
Map by Norwegian Military Geographic Service.