Norebo \u2013 which prior to the Ukraine invasion was estimated to be responsible for catching one in five of the cod eaten in Britain \u2013 is understood to be by far the largest Russian exporter of fish landed in the Netherlands, accounting for about half of a trade worth some \u00a31.1bn a year.<\/p>\n
Industry sources said it is highly likely that at least some of Norebo\u2019s fish is then re-exported to the UK and there were calls yesterday for the Government to impose its own ban on the Russian fishing conglomerate.<\/p>\n
Brussels imposed the ban after it found vessels belonging to Norebo, which owns a fleet of about 40 trawlers, and Murman Sea Food, another major Russian producer, were directly assisting the Kremlin by loitering close to targets and \u201cengaging in and supporting actions aimed at interfering with critical infrastructure\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_244508668.jpg\")
Fishing trawlers moored in Murmansk, home to a significant proportion of the Russian fishing fleet (Photo: Dario Thuburn\/AFP)<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s EU ruling found that its trawlers were \u201cequipped with technology that may be used for espionage\u201d and repeatedly undertook unusual manoeuvres unconnected with fishing and which aligned with the \u201cmalign objectives\u201d of a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n
Norebo told The i Paper that it categorically rejected any suggestion that it was involved in espionage, saying such claims were \u201cfalse\u201d and designed to \u201cpromote a political agenda\u201d.<\/p>\n
Vital cables severed<\/p>\n
Murman SeaFood is accused of using one of its vessels, the Melkart-5, to shadow a Nato naval exercise and deploying the same trawler in seas off Norway. The EU sanctions notice said the trawler had been in the immediate vicinity of a subsea cable, used to transmit sensitive military data, when it was severed shortly before Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.<\/p>\n
Moscow has long been accused of a long-running \u201cgrey zone\u201d campaign against the West, sponsoring or conducting acts such as attacking deep-sea pipelines and cables.<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s action by Brussels is understood to be the first time Russia\u2019s vast fishing fleet \u2013 its third-biggest source of exports \u2013 has been officially named and sanctioned for aiding Kremlin sabotage operations.<\/p>\n
An EU spokesperson called the move \u201cnotable\u201d, adding: \u201c[The two companies] are part of a Russia-state sponsored surveillance campaign that has conducted espionage missions and sabotage on critical infrastructure, including undersea cables.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sanctions ban any EU-based individual or entity from \u201cmaking funds available\u201d to the two named companies, as well as freezing their assets within the trade bloc.<\/p>\n
But Russian businesses and state agencies have previously proved adept at circumventing similar embargoes, using third parties to obtain or sell goods that would otherwise be prohibited from legitimate trade.<\/p>\n
Kaja Kallas, the EU\u2019s high representative for foreign affairs, said: \u201cRussia\u2019s actions and those who enable Russia face severe consequences. The longer Russia persists with its illegal and brutal war, the tougher our response will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement, Norebo said the EU claims were \u201cfalse\u201d and it had acted at all times in accordance with the law in the countries and waters where it operates. The company said: \u201cThere is no evidence that can be delivered by the EU authorities to ever substantiate their incorrect claims. It is therefore sad to see what ought to be the rule of law and fact degrade into mere biased politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murman SeaFood did not respond to a request to comment.<\/p>\n
Russian fish stocking UK shops<\/p>\n
The move by Brussels poses an awkward problem for the British Government, which has yet to take any action against Norebo or other Russian fishing companies.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_244660268_95adb6.jpg\")
Russian fish is entering the UK after first being sent to countries such as China and the Netherlands<\/p>\n