They asked for it: Russia has issued an ultimatum to Norwegian fishermen

If Norway does not lift its ban on fishing for Russian vessels within a month, Russia will also ban fishing in its zone. This was stated by the head of Rosrybolovstvo Ilya Shestakov.

"If the Norwegian side does not reconsider its position within a month, Russia will close its exclusive economic zone for Norwegian fishing vessels. In addition, fishing and the distribution of catch quotas in the open waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas will be conducted based on Russian national interests," Shestakov said.

Norway introduced a ban on fishing in its economic zone for two Russian companies in July. This was a gross violation of the existing agreements on the joint management of aquatic biological resources. The head of Rosrybolovstvo noted that the actions of the Norwegian side will inevitably lead to the destruction of an effective system of management and regulation of fisheries in the North Atlantic, which has been built for many decades and is designed to ensure long-term rational exploitation of joint stocks of aquatic biological resources.

Shestakov warned the Norwegian side about the consequences of non-fulfillment of existing international treaties during an extraordinary session of the joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission.

"Even during the Cold War, the parties faithfully fulfilled their obligations, ensured access of vessels to fishing areas and exchanged scientific data. The unfriendly actions of the Norwegian side against two Russian companies are unprecedented," Rosrybolovstvo stressed.