Leader of fishing company Vitaly Orlov sues Norway after sanctions

Vitaly Orlov (center, with glasses) is Russia’s media-shy seafood tycoon. Here together with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev and Minister of the Far East and Arctic Aleksei Chekunkov.
Photo: Norebo on social media

Orlov’s fishing company Norebo is denied access to Norwegian economic zone after assumtions of intelligence gatering. Now, Orlov has sued Norway.

One of the largest fishing companies in Russia, Norebo, was included in the 17th Sanction Package of the European Union last spring. In June, Norway followed up by not allowing Norebo-owed vessels into Norwegian sea territory and denied the company’s vessels access to ports. 

The documents, published by the European Council 20. May 2025, states that Norebo-owned vessels have showed inconsistent movement patterns that are not in accordance with standard economic fishing activities.

The document also states:

“Shipping vessels owned and operated by Norebo JSC have also been equipped with technology that may be used for espionage”.

Following the decision made by the European Council, Norway banned Norebo’s vessels to be entering Norwegian sea territory and port facilities.

Norebo rejects intelligence operations

Norebo’s Lawyer, Hallvard Østgård, explains why the fishing company takes Norway to court. According to him, Norebo’s reaction was triggered by Norway’s ban, not allowing vessels into Norwegian economic zone, going 200 nautical miles from shore.

He follows up by separating Norwegian territorial waters and Norway’s economic zone. In this case Østgård brings up the discussion of international waters.

“In principal, Norway stretches out 12 miles from shore, and have full sovereignty in these territorial waters. However, the regulation from the Russian-Norwegian fishing agreement does not include the waters outside of this 12 mile zone”, he argues.

The European Council however, states that “The movement patterns align with malign objectives, such as repeatedly being in the vicinity of or loitering near critical infrastructure and military sites”.

“How does Norebo react to EUs assumption that their vessels have been equipped with technology that may have been used for espionage?”.

“They have rejected this statement, and have prepared a document answering the European Council”, Østgård answers.

According to Østgård, the length of this document is 10.000 pages. 

Sued by Russian fish oligarch 

One of the largest Russian fishing companies, Norebo, is owned by the 60-year old Vitaly Orlov. According to Forbes, he is believed to have a fortune of $2 billion. 

His fishing company has about 40 percent of the cod quota in the Barents sea, along with the company Murman Seafood.

Undersea infrastructure

According to European Council, the sailing patterns of the company’s ships appear to be linked to a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign that “employs inter alia, civilian fishing trawlers, to conduct espionage missions directed against civilian and military infrastructure in the North and Baltic Sea”.

In a public statement connected to Norway’s sanctions against Norebo, Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the Russian hybrid campaigns against allied nation has been increasing.

According to him, Norebo is “part of a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign and intelligence activity targeting critical underwater infrastructure in Norwegian and allied maritime areas”.

There is a network of gas pipelines, telecommunications cables and power cables on Norway’s continental shelf and to other European neighbors. 

Murman Seafood is also attached to the 17th Sanction Package of the European Union. 

Norebo’s lawsuit against Norway will take place at Oslo city court on 26. January.