Soviet ‘fish-poach’ hearing adjourned

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 9

Soviet ‘fish-poach’ hearing adjourned

The hearing of charges against the master of the Soviet fishing vessel Dolomit, for allegedly fishing within the 25-mile restricted zone off the South Island in July, has been delayed until February. The adjournment was granted in the District Court at Wellington yesterday, but last evening there was confusion over which party had sought the delay. Independent Fisheries of Christchurch, which chartered the Dolomit, released a strongly worded press statement, criticising the delay. Mr Charles Shadbolt, the company manager, blamed the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and said the Ministry had

not bothered to communicate with his company since the summons against the Soviet master was served last month.

But the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries sadi the case was adjourned at the request of the solicitor acting for the Russian defendant. Mr Steve Bishop, the acting chief fisheries officer in Wellington, said he understood the Russian crew of the Dolomit wanted to return to the Soviet Union for rest after being in New Zealand for the last six months. He said the solicitor acting for the Soviets sought an adjournment while the crew was out of the country. But Mr Shadbolt said most of the crew, includ-

ing the Dolomit’s master, was still in New Zealand. The solicitor for the Soviet ship’s master, Mr Tom Broadmore of Wellington, denied he had sought a delay in the case for the reasons quoted by the Ministry.

He said February 8 was the earliest opportunity the Wellington District Court could hear the defended action.

Mr Broadmore criticised the Ministry saying if the summons had been served shortly after the alleged incident, in July, the case could have been heard by now. The Soviet master, Vladimir Melentyev, has denied charges of fishing within the 25-mile restricted zone off the West Coast in July.