President Vladimir Putin signs a law condemning a fisheries agreement with the United Kingdom. The official text was published on the Official Publication of Legal Regulations portal.
The document states, “To condemn the fisheries agreement signed in Moscow between the government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 25 May 1956.”
The State Duma approved a bill condemning the agreement that allowed British fishing rights in Russia’s Barents Sea territory. President Putin personally initiated the measure, a response to sanctions and taxes imposed by London, including those affecting Russian whitefish. Media outlets noted that Russia’s rejection of the deal could affect Britain’s iconic dish, fish and chips.
The agreement between Moscow and London dates back to the spring of 1956, with the document signed by USSR Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Kuznetsov and the British Ambassador to the USSR, William Hayter. Even during the Cold War, British vessels fished in the Russian portion of the Barents Sea. The treaty remained in effect after the Soviet Union dissolved, with the Russian Federation serving as its successor state.
Earlier, the speaker of the State Duma explained the rationale for removing British fishing rights from the Barents Sea region.
In this context, the move aligns with Moscow’s broader approach to international fishing arrangements and reflects ongoing tensions over sanctions and maritime access in northern waters. The shift could reshape long-standing cooperation in Arctic fisheries and influence the economies dependent on Barents Sea resources. Observers emphasize that the outcome will hinge on subsequent regulatory steps and how allied partners respond to evolving rules for northern fishing.
Analysts note that this measure is part of a larger pattern in which Russia asserts control over its exclusive economic zone and navigational access, while ensuring that international agreements serve its strategic and economic interests. The development underscores how sanctions, retaliatory actions, and tariff policy intersect with maritime law and historic treaties, affecting fishermen, supply chains, and regional markets. The situation remains fluid as government bodies review implementation details and potential amendments to related arrangements. (Attribution: Official Publication of Legal Regulations)