A Chinese fishing vessel which ran aground in French Polynesia four months ago remains stuck on the reef of Arutua atoll.
The ship Shen Gang Shun 1, a longliner owned by Shenzhen Shengang Overseas Industrial Company, hit the reef on 21 March with 250 tonnes of fuel and about 70 tonnes of fish on board.
Shen Gang Shun 1 stuck on reef of Arutua Photo: supplied
In April, the administrative court in Papeete ordered Shenzhen Shengang to start removing the 50-metre long ship within 15 days or face a fine of $US5000 a day.
However, efforts to pull the ship off the reef were unsuccessful and work to dismantle the vessel is yet to begin.
On board, a large quantity of frozen sharks was found, prompting complaints to the public prosecutor.
French Polynesia has the world's largest shark sanctuary and in the territory it is forbidden to possess or transport a protected species, be they dead or alive.