Russia to Take Tit-for-Tat Measures Against Norwegian Fishing Vessels
Norway’s fishing industry has been urged to stay clear of Russian waters after Moscow threatened retaliatory measures over Oslo’s decision to ban two Russian fishing companies.
The warning came from Fiskebåt, the Norwegian vessel owners’ association, following an extraordinary commission meeting between Norway and Russia this week. The meeting was convened at Russia’s initiative after the Norwegian government in July prohibited Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood from operating in its exclusive economic zone. The government said the ban was justified by risks of sabotage and espionage.
Moscow has described the sanctions as a “gross violation” of existing agreements on the joint management of marine biological resources. The head of Russia’s Federal Agency for Fisheries, Ilya Shestakov, escalated the rhetoric in comments to the state news agency Tass.
“In case the Norwegian side does not reconsider its position within one month, Russia will close its exclusive economic zone for Norwegian fishing vessels,” Shestakov said. He added that Russia would move to set its own quotas unilaterally: “Fisheries and distribution of catch quotas in open waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas will be carried out on the basis of Russian national interests.”
According to the agency’s press service, the measures are intended as tit-for-tat against Norway’s sanctions on Russian companies.
Fiskebåt responded by strongly advising Norwegian vessels not to enter Russian waters until the situation is clarified. The organisation warned that escalating threats from Moscow could have “dramatic consequences” for the long-established fisheries cooperation between the two countries, which covers both bottom fish and pelagic species.
The dispute now places one of the world’s most significant joint fisheries management arrangements under acute strain, with the risk of disruption to catches in both the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea.
