Thus, from March 2022, the United States began restricting fish imports from Russia, first banning imports of salmon, cod, crab and pollock, and then all processed seafood of Russian origin. The All-Russian Association of Fishery Producers (VARPE) had earlier warned of possible negative consequences for consumers.
American companies involved in the supply of Russian crab faced financial difficulties and found themselves on the verge of bankruptcy. For example, Marine Fishing International (MFI) and its owner Whittier Seafood are experiencing serious problems due to the imposed sanctions.
In Europe, the situation is similar. In the UK, the cost of the fish-and-chips dish has almost doubled due to restrictions on cod supplies. In Germany, they predict a sharp rise in pollock prices due to expected new sanctions.
According to Steffen Meyer, managing director of the Federal Association of the German Fishing Industry and Wholesale Trade, the German market is heavily dependent on fish from Russia. Failure to secure supplies of saida and cod could lead to the layoff of about a thousand workers in the fish processing industry. Three years could be enough to cause irreparable damage to the industry, according to the RIA Novosti piece.