Ukrainian and Russian border guards have combined efforts in countering poaching and other offences in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and in the Kerch Strait. Simferopol, April 30 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukrainian and Russian border guards have combined efforts in countering poaching and other offences in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and in the Kerch Strait.

Preventative measures are yielding good results, the Azov-Black Sea regional department of Ukraine's State Border Service, reported on Friday. Four poaching vessels, which crossed into Ukrainian waters, have been stopped in the Black Sea and in the Kerch Strait jointly by Ukrainian and Russian border guards over the past two weeks alone.

Poachers' vessels usually have powerful engines so they could easily escape. Therefore, alongside land patrols, the coastguards have technical monitoring posts, patrol planes and helicopters, and task forces of border guards at their disposal, the department said.

The Azov-Black Sea regional department has detained 407 citizens of Ukraine since the start of the year for violating fishing rules. Nearly 18 kilometers of nets and other fishing gear, and over six tonnes of seafood have been seized. Fines amounting to almost UAH 23,000 have been imposed on the poachers.