Feature story - October 2, 2006
The Arctic Sunrise found them in Svetly, close to Kaliningrad, this time. The Rosita (formerly Okhotino), Eva (formerly Oyra), Juanita (formerly Ostroe) and Isabella (formerly Olchan). Earlier this year we caught up to these four ships in Germany. Then later in Lithuania. The fourth member of the fleet, the Carmen (formerly Ostrovets), we confronted in Poland.
A notorious pirate fishing fleet in the harbour of Svetly in Kaliningrad. The ships are blacklisted by the European Union, Iceland and North East Atlantic Fisheries Committee (NEAFC).
In all, we've tracked these pirates for over a
year. In thattime they have been re-named and re-flagged after
being blacklisted by theEuropean Union, Iceland and North East
Atlantic Fisheries Committee (NEAFC).
"This is a golden opportunity for Russia to stop these ships,
since allthese vessels are here illegally", said Frode Pleym,
Greenpeace campaigneron board Arctic Sunrise. "If Russia doesn't
act it's a clear violation ofinternational agreements. According to
the treaties the ships are not evenallowed to enter this port, and
any service to the ships - including pilotservices - is also
illegal," added Pleym.
NEAFC is meeting tomorrow in Estonia. During the meeting
Greenpeace will hand over the documentation from Svetly and demand
that the organization take the steps necessary to finally stop this
pirate fleet.