Russia Defies EU Pressure in Renewed Fishing Agreement With Norway

Russia and Norway have resumed cooperation in the fisheries sector in the Barents and Norwegian seas, overcoming political resistance from the European Union. The renewed arrangements allow Russian fishing vessels access to both Russian and Norwegian exclusive economic zones to harvest jointly managed stocks of cod and haddock in the upcoming fishing year.

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Fisherman

Science-Based Management at the Core of the Agreement

According to Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, the agreements go beyond technical access for fishing fleets and include a broader framework governing joint operations. This framework covers regulatory parameters, quota allocation, and long-term stock management.

Shestakov emphasized that Russia's negotiating position was firmly grounded in scientific assessments. Calculations and recommendations from Russian research institutions formed the basis for the agreed catch volumes in the Barents Sea, as reported by RIA Novosti.

This approach ensured a balance between the commercial interests of fishing companies and the long-term conservation of cod and haddock stocks, which are strategically important for both countries.

EU Opposition and Political Pressure

Shestakov underlined that Russia did not make concessions under political pressure from EU institutions. He openly pointed to Brussels' negative stance toward the Russian-Norwegian fisheries agreement.

According to his assessment, the European Union is dissatisfied with the fact that Russia and Norway independently and effectively manage shared fish stocks across two economic zones, demonstrating the efficiency of a bilateral model without EU involvement.

EU institutions, he noted, regularly seek formal or political pretexts either to accuse the parties or to disrupt agreements, as successful cooperation between Moscow and Oslo undermines EU claims to a dominant role in regulating fisheries in the North Atlantic.

Sanctions, Restrictions, and Reciprocal Measures

Negotiations intensified after the Norwegian side unilaterally imposed restrictions on Russian fishing vessels linked to the companies Norebo and Murman Seafood. These measures followed EU санкцион decisions and effectively deprived a significant portion of the Russian fleet of access to Norway's economic zone.

According to Rosrybolovstvo, the restrictions affected up to half of Russia's fishing capacity for cod and haddock. In Moscow, these actions were described as unjustified and contrary to the established bilateral fisheries management system.

In response, Russia signaled its readiness to introduce reciprocal restrictions on Norwegian fishing vessels if the limitations were not revised.

A Pragmatic Outcome

At the same time, Russia clearly defined the scope of dialogue, agreeing to discuss only professional issues such as total allowable catches and quota distribution for jointly managed biological resources, without linking negotiations to political demands from the European Union.

The outcome of the talks confirmed the effectiveness of this pragmatic approach. Despite formally adhering to the EU sanctions framework, Norway remains objectively interested in maintaining sustainable fishing and predictable operating conditions in the Barents Sea.

The Russian-Norwegian fisheries management system, in place since 1976 through the Joint Fisheries Commission, has proven its effectiveness over decades and has helped preserve some of the world's largest cod and haddock populations.

Limits of Sanctions in Resource Management

EU sanctions pressure has shown limited effectiveness in areas where tangible economic and environmental interests of coastal states are at stake. The politicization of fisheries policy by Brussels runs counter to principles of rational resource management and established international practice.