January 18th 2024.
The Barents Sea is well-known for its abundance of cod and haddock, which are highly sought after and sold in the UK market. However, recent reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to take action against Britain's fishing industry. This comes just days after UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak promised support to Ukraine, stating that they will never be left alone and committing to a significant amount of military aid.
According to Russian newspaper Izvestiya, which is owned by Putin's longtime partner Alina Kabaeva, the Kremlin is considering terminating a Cold War agreement that allows British boats to fish in the Barents Sea. The country's agriculture ministry has reportedly drafted legislation to ban UK vessels from accessing these important fishing grounds. This could potentially lead to confrontations between Russian warships and British trawlers found in the area.
In fact, the report states that Russia has already approved the ban, making it the first international food agreement to be denounced by the country. This move has significant implications for the UK, as it could mean losing access to the valuable cod and haddock found in the Barents Sea. For almost 70 years, British vessels have been allowed to operate in these waters, even during the height of the Cold War. This ban would mark a major shift in this longstanding arrangement.
Andrew Cook, the president of the UK's National Federation of Fish Friers, spoke to Sky News about the potential impact of this ban. He expressed concern about the high prices of fish in recent years and how this has affected businesses. He also noted that while the ban may not have a huge impact on UK chippies, as they also source fish from nearby Norwegian waters, it is still a concerning development. Cook added that this move by Russia is essentially weaponizing food, which is not a positive development for the world.
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