The explosions in the Nordstream pipelines and increased geopolitical tensions as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine have now seen Norway decide to permit Russian fishing vessels to call at only three Norwegian ports: Tromsø, Kirkenes and Botsfjord.
According to a statement from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all Russian vessels arriving at these ports must be checked. “We have closely monitored Russian activity in Norwegian waters and in Norwegian ports to avoid Norway becoming a transit country for transporting goods illegally to Russia. We now have information which indicates that there is a need to increase the control of Russian fishing vessels,” said Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
Norway said that a complete ban on Russian fishing vessels was not feasible because Norway and Russia together manage several fish stocks, and that it was important to manage the world’s largest cod stock in a sustainable manner.