The Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries has issued a warning to Norway in response to sanctions imposed earlier this by the EU on Russian fishing companies Norebo and Murman Seafood. Norway’s decision to join the sanctions against these two companies appears to have prompted this latest twist.
The warning was given by Agency head Ilya Shestakov during an extraordinary session of the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission which has served since 1976 as a platform for research and responsible management of Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea stocks. It operated throughout the long years of the Cold War, with regular exchanges of information and scientific data, and reciprocal access for fishing vessels.
The Federal Agency for Fisheries states that Norway imposed a ban on fishing in its EEZ for two Russian companies, without grounds to do so.
‘This is a gross violation of current agreements on joint management,’ the Agency states, describing the actions of the Norwegian side towards two Russian companies as ‘unprecedented’.
‘The actions of the Norwegian side will inevitably lead to the destruction of the effective system of management and regulation of fisheries in the North Atlantic, which has been built up over many decades and is designed to ensure the long-term rational exploitation of joint resources,’ Ilya Shestakov said.
‘If the Norwegian side does not reconsider its position within a month, Russia will close its exclusive economic zone to Norwegian fishing vessels. In addition, fishing and distribution of catch quotas in the open waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas will be conducted based on Russian national interests.’
