Norway and Russia to Hold Digital Fisheries Talks Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Annual Fisheries Negotiations to Proceed Virtually

The annual fisheries negotiations between Norway and Russia are scheduled to take place digitally from December 8 to 12, 2025. This decision comes after a period of uncertainty, with both nations agreeing to maintain their long-standing cooperation on managing shared fish stocks in the Barents Sea, despite a challenging geopolitical climate.

The talks are facilitated by the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission, a body established in 1976 that has been instrumental in the sustainable management of key species for nearly 50 years.

Geopolitical Strain and Sanctions Impact Discussions

This year's negotiation process has been described as 'more demanding than in previous years' by Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss. The increased difficulty stems from the broader geopolitical situation and, specifically, Norway's decision in July 2025 to sanction two major Russian fishing companies, Murman SeaFood and Norebo JSC, aligning with EU restrictive measures.

In response to these sanctions, Russia, through Ilya Shestakov, Head of the Federal Agency for Fishery, issued threats of retaliation, including potentially closing its exclusive economic zone to Norwegian vessels and setting unilateral quotas. These tensions led to the postponement of the usual October meeting of the Joint Commission.

Key Stocks and Reduced Quotas on the Agenda

The primary objective of the negotiations is to set and allocate Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for the upcoming year for vital shared stocks in the Barents Sea. These include Northeast Arctic cod, haddock, capelin, Greenland halibut, and beaked redfish. The Commission also addresses reciprocal fishing opportunities in each other's zones and quota exchanges.

For 2025, the total quota for Northeast Arctic cod has already been set at 340,000 tonnes, representing a 25% reduction from 2024 and marking the lowest level since 1991. Quotas for haddock and blue halibut have also seen decreases, and capelin fishing will remain closed due to concerns over stock health. Scientific advice for these quotas is now provided bilaterally by the Institute of Marine Research (Norway) and VNIRO (Russia), following the suspension of Russia from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in March 2022 due to the war in Ukraine.

Commitment to Continued Cooperation

Despite the significant challenges, Minister Næss reiterated Norway's commitment to the cooperation, stating, 'It is in everyone's interest that this co-operation continues, even in challenging times.' The digital format allows for the continuation of these critical discussions, which are seen as essential for the long-term sustainability of marine resources in the High North.