REUTER 16/3/1995

STRASBOURG, France Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino stressed late on Wednesday that the European Commission had not legally endorsed the posting of a bond to gain Canada's release of a seized Spanish trawler.

"I don't want to impede a private citizen from paying a bond," Bonino told reporters.

"That does not imply a recognition in law on the part of the Commission."

Canada agreed on Wednesday to release the trawler Estai, which it had held since last week for allegedly overfishing near its coast, after the owners posted a Canadian $500,000 ($355,000) bond.

Bonino then announced that the Commission, which had frozen formal contacts with Canada over the incident, would open negotiations with Ottawa to try to resolve the dispute.

She told reporters the posting of the bond should not be seen as any kind of legal precedent.