Senegal
navy has seized a Russian vessel and has accused its sailors of illegal fishing
in its waters. There were 62 Russians and 20 citizens of Guinea-Bissau the neighboring
country were on board.
The Senegal
navy detained this Russian trawler named; Oleg Naydenov said the Senegal
armed forces spokesperson Abou Thiam. Almost all western African countries are
having an anti fishing drive at this moment.
This drive is meant to stop the declining fishing stocks. The
French military is also helping Senegal
navy in tackling this problem.
The trawler Oleg Naydenov is a repeat offender which was
spotted by the French military plane, said Senegal’s Fisheries Minister Haider
El-Ali to the press reporters.
It was expected that Senegal would make an announcement
soon which would allow the government to take ownership of foreign ships which “robs
our resources” said the minister.
Senegal
would impose a fine of 200m CFA francs (US$ 414, 000) for illegal fishing but
it could be doubled for the Oleg Naydenov as it is a repeated offender, as per Mr.
El-Ali.
As per US Agency for International Development has estimated
that Senegal
lost about 150bn CFA francs a year because of this illegal fishing by the
foreign trawlers.
Mr. Ali has also suggested that there are about 50 such
trawlers operating off the Senegal
coast.
