There is a fear that the cod stock in the Barents Sea will collapse, which is the reason why Norway has not introduced as strict sanctions against Russian fishing boats as the EU has done. Nevertheless, it has been tightened recently. From 14 October, only ports in Tromsø, Båtsfjord and Kirkenes are open to Russian fishing boats. The Russian threat to cut ties with Norway appears in a fisheries agreement that was signed on Tuesday. Recorded during the negotiations between Norway and Russia held every autumn. This week the agreement ended with a cut in the total quota of twenty percent. It is in line with recommendations from researchers. That the agreement came into place is in itself sensational, according to the researcher. But on the penultimate page of the protocol, it is stated that the Russian party may “suspend” the agreement. This could happen if it becomes even more difficult for boats from Russia to dock in Norway. Bjørnar Skjæran is assigned an undisguised Russian threat to withdraw from fisheries cooperation. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Fisheries Minister Bjørnar Skjæran (Ap) makes it clear that sanctions have not been negotiated in the meetings with Russia. – It is good that we have obtained a fisheries agreement that gives us sustainable management of important fish stocks, at the same time we stand up for the sanctions and control that the sanctions regulations are complied with. We will continue with that, says Skjæran. – How do you see Russia reserving the right to suspend the fisheries agreement if further austerity measures are implemented from the Norwegian side? – We have explained that we see no basis for the Russian party to suspend the agreement, for external reasons. In our view, the Fisheries Commission has reached good decisions, which will ensure continued sustainable management of our common stocks, says Skjæran. From the protocol for the fisheries agreement “The Russian party informed the Norwegian party that in the event that further unilateral restrictions on Russian fishing vessels’ access to ports in Norway are introduced, the Russian party reserves the right to suspend this protocol without regard to the deadlines set in Section 7 of the Rules of Procedure for the Mixed Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission.” – Tells Putin that threats help The Liberals have been highly critical of the government’s thinking about both fisheries management and sanctions at the same time. The party’s business policy spokesperson Alfred Bjørlo believes Russian threats have been legitimized. – This is a problem the government has created itself. We must stop this type of legitimization of threats from Putin’s dictatorship. Fisheries management and landing of fish have nothing to do with each other, we must not accept a premise of linking this, says Bjørlo. The Liberal Party’s business policy spokesperson Alfred Bjørlo characterizes it as quite special that the Russian threats can be read in an official document. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB He is also critical of the fact that Norway has made the Russian threats public. – It is very special that such a threat is quoted and reproduced in an official statement from the Norwegian government, says Bjørlo. And he goes even further. – By repeating the Russian threat in the official press release on the matter, we have told Putin that threats help. We are now helping to legitimize Russian threats against Norway, says Bjørlo. – Continues with divisive actions The Minister of Fisheries reacts sharply to the accusations from the Liberal Party. – I note that Bjørlo and Venstre continue with their divisive actions at a time when the need for unity is great. Fortunately, it is an approach they are mostly alone in, says Skjæran. He believes it would not be right to keep the Russian threat hidden. – Bjørlo would like to think that information people are wondering about should be hidden away, but that’s where we separate teams, says Skjæran – Sensational Researcher Geir Hønneland at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute does not think Russia will take the threats seriously. Even if Norway were to close several ports. Researcher Geir Hønneland does not believe that Russia will take the threats seriously, even if Norway were to tighten further. Photo: Mathias Hamre / news – I don’t think the threats are serious. Russia has everything to gain from us being able to maintain cooperation. If Russia were to withdraw, it would open up an opportunity for other countries to adjust. Norway and Russia are a strong alliance in the Barents Sea, says Hønneland. Nevertheless, he believes it is surprising that the agreement is in place at all. – It is not unexpected, but at the same time it is almost a little surprising, in the situation we are in now, that Norway and Russia actually agree on a quota agreement for next year, which is completely in line with the scientific recommendations, says Hønneland . He believes that the Russian authorities are primarily trying to send a signal through the threat. – I perceive it mostly as a small kick. They want to express dissatisfaction with the fact that only three ports are open after Norway chose to close most of the ports to Russian fishing vessels.
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Russia threatens to withdraw from fisheries agreement if Norway shuts out Russian fishing boats – news Troms og Finnmark
