The Norwegian government has officially banned two Russian fishing companies, Murman Sea Food and Norebo JSC, from accessing Norwegian ports, following their inclusion in the EU sanctions list on 20 May. Oslo justifies the decision on the grounds of protecting Norway’s national security interests, citing recent suspicions of Russian espionage and hybrid threats.
“We have recently seen increasingly aggressive Russian hybrid campaigns against allied countries. This trend is expected to continue,” said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
The move aligns Norway with EU measures against entities accused of participating in state-sponsored surveillance campaigns. According to the EU, both companies are involved in intelligence-gathering activities that could threaten critical underwater infrastructure in Norwegian and allied waters.
Suspicions around Melkart-5 and underwater cables
Particular concern revolves around the Melkart-5, a trawler operated by Murman Sea Food, which reportedly sailed near NATO exercises and loitered close to sensitive military zones. The vessel also repeatedly crossed a subsea cable near Svalbard, which was later found seriously damaged—a case initially reported by NRK in 2022.
This incident has been interpreted by both the EU and Norwegian authorities as potentially facilitating future acts of sabotage. Barth Eide emphasized that such actions could compromise “important Norwegian security policy interests.”
The EU further notes that Russian maritime doctrine allows for civilian vessels to be used for military purposes during peacetime and to prepare for wartime operations.
Fears extend to the Faroe Islands
While Norway has imposed strict restrictions, the same vessels may continue to operate in other parts of the North Atlantic. The Melkart-2, also owned by Murman Sea Food, is expected to dock at Klaksvík Harbour in the Faroe Islands, where it holds rights to fish for blue whiting, mackerel and herring under a longstanding bilateral fisheries agreement between the Faroe Islands and Russia.
This agreement, in place since 1977 and renewed annually, allows 28 Russian vessels to fish in Faroese waters in exchange for Faroese access to cod and haddock in Russian waters. Despite widespread criticism following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the deal remains active. However, in June 2023, the Faroese government limited Russian vessels’ access to harbours strictly to those involved in the fisheries accord.
Following the EU’s May sanctions, the Faroese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Industry began assessing whether a new legal basis is needed to impose similar restrictions. The outcome of this review will be debated when the Løgting (Faroese parliament) reconvenes after Ólavsøka, the islands’ national holiday at the end of July.
Moscow denies espionage allegations
Norebo JSC has publicly denied all allegations of espionage. Murman Sea Food has not yet commented.
The case adds to growing Nordic and European concerns over Russian maritime activity, particularly regarding its proximity to military and underwater communication infrastructure.
