Russian fishing loophole closed
RUSSIAN fishing vessels will no longer be allowed in UK waters, says Fishing Minister Mark Spencer.
Maritime bosses had demanded a loophole be closed that allowed the ships despite sanctions since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
The issue arose because of a shared area agreement signed in 1999 between the Faroe Islands – 200 miles north of Scotland – and the UK. Mr Spencer told MPs: “The Faroes have agreed not to allow Russian vessels into that special area in 2024.
“That’s a huge step. The Faroese have taken that decision – obviously, we’ve encouraged that.”
Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said: “It was unconscionable that Russian vessels were permitted to fish in UK waters because of a longstanding agreement with a third party (the Faroes).
“It is to Mark Spencer’s credit that he has brought the practice to an end.
“Our members who fish for blue whiting are pleased to see a positive outcome.”
The Express had travelled to the island nation to uncover how Russian fishing vessels were exploiting the loophole. The UK imposed sanctions against Russia in 2022 including a 35% tariff on Russian-caught whitefish. But the Faroese parliament gave Moscow the right to catch tens of thousands of tonnes of blue whiting in an area of the North Atlantic it shares with the UK, despite the invasion.
Faroese fleets were given access to the Barents Sea. In return, Russian vessels were allowed to catch 72,000 tonnes of blue whiting, 13,000 tonnes of mackerel and 8,500 tonnes of herring.