“The statement that Russian vessels will not be issued licenses for fishing in the Norwegian zone leaves us completely perplexed,” Khizhnyakov said, arguing that Norwegian authorities have never directly issued such licences to Russian vessels. Under the current system, Russia grants its fleet permission to fish in the Norwegian zone, while Norway does the same for its own vessels. Both parties are responsible for ensuring compliance within their own zones.
Khizhnyakov warned that politicising access to shared fishing grounds violates the spirit and structure of the agreement: “The division of the fish stock into zones – Norwegian and Russian – violates the very theoretical basis of the current agreement, its integrity and indivisibility. This is, de facto, a denial of this agreement.”
Allegations Rejected as “Fabrications”
Murman Seafood dismissed suggestions that its operations are linked to Russian state-sponsored surveillance or hybrid campaigns targeting undersea infrastructure, calling the allegations “the fruit of the imagination and fabrications of those who made this decision.”
“Our company is absolutely innocent of the actions brought against us,” the statement continued. “We do not have any experience in intelligence activities… We have experience in fishing and do nothing else.”
Murman Seafood also questioned the legal basis for sanctions being applied to vessels operating under a Russian quota, with oversight by Norwegian authorities during operations in the Norwegian Economic Zone. The company described the EEZ as “international waters” where fishing activities are permitted under mutual agreements.
Call for Strategic Perspective
Khizhnyakov called for long-term strategic thinking and reiterated that Russia’s cod and haddock fisheries have been improving in recent years, with catches increasing and fish size growing. He said Murman Seafood has always operated transparently and with respect for cooperation with European partners.
“The solution to this issue is not within the competence of the Murman Seafood Company, however, we are confident that a response will follow,” he added. “Hitting the innocent is not a good idea for achieving the goals that apparently exist.”
Murman Seafood, founded in the 1990s, described itself as a company built “from scratch” that has grown to become one of the leading players in the Russian fishing sector. Khizhnyakov closed the statement with a clear message: “We will try to do everything possible to preserve the established production and provide jobs for our workforce.”