August M
Norway’s long-running fisheries cooperation with Russia is drawing growing concern from European governments worried about security risks linked to Moscow’s activities in the Arctic.
Ziare.com reported that several European capitals are increasingly uneasy about continued Norwegian-Russian collaboration in the Barents Sea, particularly as tensions with the Kremlin remain high following the war in Ukraine.
Arctic tensions rise
According to the Financial Times, the Barents Sea contains the world’s largest cod stock but has also become an area linked to Russian surveillance and infrastructure mapping activities.
Despite wider sanctions and political isolation of Moscow, Norway has continued working with Russia under a fisheries agreement dating back to 1975.
The arrangement is considered important for preventing overfishing because cod populations move between Russian and Norwegian waters.
Europe uneasy
EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis reportedly argued that the level of cooperation with Russia should now be reduced.
“We are aware that Russia is involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, as well as espionage, mapping of critical infrastructure and sabotage activities,” Kadis said, according to Ziare.com.
“This raises security concerns.”
Economic dependence
The report noted that seafood landed in Norwegian ports generated around $2 billion last year, while Russia also earns hundreds of millions from Barents Sea fishing exports.
Diplomats cited by Ziare.com said the issue remains politically sensitive because many European countries now depend heavily on Norway for energy supplies after cutting ties with Russian gas.
One northern European diplomat reportedly described the matter as “a very, very sensitive subject”.
Norway defends policy
Norwegian Fisheries Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss defended the continued access granted to Russian vessels in selected ports and waters.
“Allowing Russian vessels to operate in Norwegian waters allows us to monitor and control their activity,” she said.
According to Ziare.com, Norway has already sharply reduced contact with Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine and limited Russian access to only a small number of ports.
Officials also warned that ending the fisheries agreement entirely could encourage uncontrolled fishing and threaten cod stocks in the Arctic region.
Sources: Ziare.com, Financial Times.
