HELSINKI, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - Norwegian fishing inspectors Richard Storas and Henning Thune, who involuntarily spent six days aboard the Russian trawler Elektron, told a press conference Friday they had plotted an escape.
The inspectors said they had contemplated jumping overboard, hoping they would be rescued by a Norwegian patrol boat that was pursuing the Elektron for alleged fishing violations off Norway's coast. They said the escape plan was realistic as they were wearing life jackets while on board the Russian trawler.
The inspectors said the Elektron crew had clearly been angry with the Norwegian Coast Guard for attempting to detain the ship but had not threatened them personally.
The inspectors boarded the Elektron Saturday as the Norwegian Coast Guard tried to arrest the boat for allegedly violating the fishing protection zone unilaterally set up by Norway off the Svalbard islands, north of the Arctic Circle. But the trawler fled into Russia's waters after a five-day chase, with the inspectors still aboard. On Thursday, the inspectors were finally transferred to a Norwegian ship.
Norwegian officials said they might press charges against the Elektron crew for illegal fishing and abduction.
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Friday he was hopeful the Russian side would bring the Elektron crew to justice for allegedly using illegal fine-mesh nets inside their main trawling nets to catch undersized fish - a serious environmental offense in Norway.
