Having in view that lately, the attacks against the biosphere of the Black Sea by practicing fish poaching increased, bringing prejudice to the existing fish stock, the Romanian Border Police initiated an ample action for prevention and countering this phenomenon.
Thus, in cooperation with the authorized authorities, the border policemen within C.I.B.P. Constanta and Tulcea extended the patrolling and surveillance actions in the Romanian territorial waters from the Black Sea, using naval technique and endowed specific equipments.
Also, actions for controlling and monitoring the trading companies which have as objectives: fishing, fish transportation and trade will be started, in order to establish the observance mode of the legal provisions on the collection and trading of fish products and the origin and the registration documents of the crafts will be controlled.
We mention that the Romanian Border Police will act decisively against any attempt of non-observance of the internal and international legal provisions regarding the exploitation, management and preservation of biologic resources - including fish resources - in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, having in view the obligations which Romania assumed as future Schengen Member State. Romania is bound to observe strictly the commitments for the protection of the Schengen area.
An example is the case recorded on 27.05.2011 - -, when the border policemen from Constanta detected, in the exclusive economic zone of Romania, a Turkish fishing vessel carrying out illegal fishing activities.
Thus, after they stopped the fishing vessel and saved the crew, which was in danger due to the fire which broke out onboard, the border policemen continued the specific activities for drawing up the rules of evidence, when, at the place of the fishing vessel, 276 fishing nets, monofilament (20,700 meters) were detected and recovered until now.
The commander of the fishing vessel is investigated for committing the following crimes: steering a vessel by a person without license or adequate capacity certificate and sailing a vessel without the minimum safety crew, fishing attempt with unauthorized tools and production, importation, holding, trading or using monofilament nets. The 13 members of the crew were sanctioned with fine amounting to 1,000 lei each and the acquittal of judicial expenses amounting to 2,000 lei each, which will be covered by the accused persons.
Thus, since 2010 and up to now, the border policemen from Constanta detected and retained another 6 fishing vessels - 5 Turkish and 1 Bulgarian - fishing illegally in the Romanian territorial waters. After the specific actions - including by force - 28 km. of fishing nets (monofilament or gill) were recovered and seized. The prejudice against the Black Sea fauna, by placing these tools, could be measured through the great number of fish (dead or alive, including dolphins), caught in the nets in the sea or found onboard of the vessels by the border policemen.
At the same time, in the first four months of 2011, the border policemen seized 6,592 kg. of fish and more than 18.2 kg. of roes which different persons - in most of the cases were Romanian citizens - held without origin documents or obtained through illegal fishing.
Also, 43 crafts, 14 boat engines, 26,978 m. monofilament nets and 1,731 fishing tools were seized.
On the name of the persons breaking the law in this field, according to the gravity of the deed, criminal files were drawn up for committing fish poaching or fines were applied.
Thus, during 01.01. - 30.04.2011, within the actions carried out independently or in collaboration with the other institutions having responsibilities in the field of prevention and countering fish poaching, the border policemen ascertained in the competence area 336 crimes related to fish poaching and applied 419 contraventions amounting to 1.3 million lei.
During 2010, 136 crafts, 41 boat engines, 363,798 m. monofilament nets, 3,347 sq.m. trammels, 1,172 other fishing tools, 22,018 kg. fish, 102 kg. roes, 17.5 kg. red roes, 1.3 kg. caviar were seized; 944 crimes related to fish poaching were ascertained and 1,277 fines amounting to 225,590 lei were applied.
Aware of the attacks against biosphere existing in the border waters, Romanian Border Police will continue to develop specific activities, independently or in cooperation with the authorized authorities in the field, in order to counteract this phenomenon, using technical equipments and organizing control filters in the competence areas.