The Norwegian Government has decided to sanction two Russian fishing companies in the wake of allegations of involvement in intelligence-gathering activities in Norwegian waters.
With this decision, Norway will support the sanctions adopted by the EU on May 20 against Murmansk-based companies the Norebo Group and Murman Seafood, "in the same way as [Norway has] previously supported the EU's other sanctions against Russia," the government said in a press release dated July 7.
"Recently, we have seen an increasingly aggressive Russian hybrid campaign against [Norway's] allies," said Espen Barth Eide, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"As a basis for the listings, the EU refers to the fact that the two fishing companies Norebo and Murman Seafood are part of a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign and intelligence activities aimed at critical underwater infrastructure in Norwegian and allied sea areas."
Eide said that such activities could lead to "future sabotage operations" as well as, "threaten important Norwegian security policy interests."
Ships from the two shipping companies will lose access to Norwegian ports and territorial waters. In principle, no licenses will be issued for fishing in the Norwegian economic zone to ships from the two shipping companies.
The government said the listing of the two shipping companies entails an obligation to freeze money and property belonging to, owned, held or controlled by the entities, as well as a prohibition against making money and property available or for the benefit of the listed.
Norebo has denied the EU's allegations, claiming that it is an "entirely non-political" company.