NRK is not allowed to meet the Russian researchers who came to Bergen on Monday to participate in a fisheries meeting with their Norwegian research colleagues. They meet at the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen city center, but the media have not been given access to the meeting. Repeated requests from NRK for photos and interviews have been rejected. Only meeting The Researchers’ Meeting in Bergen is the only official meeting between Norway and Russia at the moment, due to the war between Ukraine and Russia. Norwegian meeting participants confirm that the circumstances are unusual. – The background for this meeting was a bit special. It marked the beginning of the meeting. But as we got into professional discussions, I would say that it went as usual, says Geir Huse, research director at the Institute of Marine Research. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss how much can be fished up by the Barents Sea. The result will be decisive for how much Norway is allowed to fish next year. Based on the meeting, the two countries will negotiate this autumn on how much each country can fish, ie next year’s fisheries agreement. The cod breeds in the Russian zone and swims into the Norwegian zone before it matures. Some of the best cod areas in the world are in the Norwegian economic zone. Photo: Piera Balto / NRK Russia out of research council The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is an organization that each year gives its members quota advice for the most important fish stocks. In March, Russia was ousted as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. Norway nevertheless continues its fisheries co-operation and research co-operation on fisheries issues with Russia. The countries have a fisheries co-operation that stretches back to the mid-70s. The fish wanders across national borders Knut Einar Skodvin, professor at the Faculty of Law at UiB, believes that it is important to maintain the conversation with Russia. – We have legal obligations for proper management of fishery resources. It will be problematic if we do not talk together about the resources that migrate across national borders, says Skodvin. The researchers were to meet at the border in eastern Finnmark, near the Norwegian-Russian border. The meeting was then moved to Bergen at the request of the Russians. This was done to make the journey easier for the Russian researchers. Fisheries cooperation between Norway and Russia Norway and Russia have a fisheries cooperation that dates back to the mid-1970s. Today, this means that the countries together agree on quotas, ie how much fish the two countries can catch. The goal is sustainable fishing. The countries also collaborate on research and control in the fishing industry. The agreement also states that Russian fishermen can fish in Norwegian areas. An important reason is that smoother catches of fish in the Barents Sea are more sustainable. Russian boats can also deliver fish to Norway. It is a secret how the Russians distribute the quotas between their shipping companies. There is far more fishing in the Norwegian zone than in the Russian zone. Some of the best cod areas in the world are in the Norwegian economic zone. While the cod breeds in the Russian zone, it swims over to the Norwegian zone before it matures. The cod swim across national borders, and professionals point out that neighboring countries must cooperate on the administration even if the relationship between them is strained. Photo: Rolf M. Aagaard / Aftenposten Long tradition of collaboration Researchers from the two countries have a long tradition of collaborating to monitor and research the ecosystem and stocks in the Barents Sea. – Even under very tense security policy situations, these two countries have had a tradition of keeping this out and ensuring sound administration, Skodvin explains. Every year, the two countries negotiate how much cod, haddock, capelin, redfish and halibut can be fished. Norway and Russia are also the first two countries in the world to introduce a quota system for the common fish stock. This has led to the cod stock today being one of the world’s largest and most robust. In 2021 alone, Norway exported cod worth NOK 9.8 billion. The fisheries co-operation ensures control of the catch, and screens for overfishing. Breaks in cooperation can lead to the stock collapsing. – One is completely dependent on it if one is to have a high-quality stock assessment, says Huse. Minister of Fisheries Bjørnar Skjæran says the meeting is very important for Norway. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen / NRK – A fundamental Norwegian interest Minister of Fisheries Bjørnar Skjæran (Labor Party) says that the meeting is very important for Norway. – It is a basic Norwegian interest. This is about sustainable management of resources in the Barents Sea, says Skjæran to NRK. – What are your expectations for the fisheries negotiations? – All bilateral cooperation is on hold. Fisheries co-operation and research co-operation are maintained at a professional level. Then we’ll see how it unfolds. Skjæran believes that if you do not have this agreement, you risk overfishing. It can affect Norwegian coastal communities over a long period of time.
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Closed doors and refuses to meet the press when Russian researchers meet colleagues in Bergen – NRK Vestland
