Fishing company Norebo, and its subsidiaries, lost in temporary court order

After losing its permission to fish in the Norwegian economic zone, Norebo went to court for a temporary injunction. The Russian fishing company, with its nine subsidiaries, argues that it is illegal to deny fishing access to the Norwegian economic zone.

In the court hearing that took place in Oslo City Court January 26, 2026, the company asked the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries to renew their license to fish despite the sanctions that have been imposed.

According to the court order, Norebo refers to the fisheries agreement between Norway and Russia. More specifically the interpretation of article one and article three, naming them "must-commitments." This argument underlines that both Russia and Norway share mutual access to fish resources in each other's economic zones.

"Refusing to give permission is not in accordance with public international law following the fisheries agreement with Russia," Norebo argues according to the court order.

The government lawyer Kaija Bjelland however, argues that it is illegal for the Norwegian Fisheries Monitoring Centre to give Norebo a fishing license based on the given sanctions. 

"There is nothing in the fisheries agreement between Norway and Russia that obliges the states to grant licenses in violation of their own legislation. The sanction regulation is carried out in accordance with Norwegian law, and it would be illegal for the Norwegian Fisheries Monitoring Centre to give fishing licenses to these companies," she emphasizes.

Territorial waters

Furthermore, Norebo brings up the question about territorial waters, arguing that sanctions should not apply for vessels sailing further offshore than 12 miles.

"Norway's economic zone is not Norwegian territory," Norebo states in the court order.

Is this an agreement between the two parts?

"No one has claimed that the Norwegian economic zone falls under the concept of Norwegian territory," Bjelland answers before continuing:

"The point is that the sanctions rules prohibit making assets available to sanctioned parties, and that it is irrelevant where the sanctioned party intends to use them later. The Fisheries Monitoring Centre, which is located on Norwegian territory, therefore had no right to give licenses, even if these were to be used outside Norwegian territory."

The Court agreed with this statement in their decision:

"The Court further finds that a permit to fish in the Norwegian economic zone constitutes an ‘asset’ within the meaning of the sanctions regulations."

Following their statement regarding assets, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries reiterates the reason that Norebo is sanctioned in the court order:

"The EU has considered that Norebo is participating in a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign, especially aimed at critical undersea infrastructure. EU's considerations are being carried out in accordance with Norwegian law through the sanction regulation."

This statement is later followed up:

"It is an obvious mismatch between the sanctioned's wish to conduct business in Norwegian economic zone and Norway's security policy interests."

Suspension with economical consequences

Norebo justifies the need for a temporary injunction by emphasizing the economic consequences for the company, which is "not possible to calculate," according to them.

Bjelland agrees that the decision to deny a license will affect Norebo's economically.

"There is no dispute that the decisions to deny the companies licenses cause them financial loss. This is normal for this type of decision and is not, in itself, sufficient to justify a temporary injunction," she says.

The Court decided to reject the temporary injunction requested by Norebo.

The Barents Observer has tried to get a comment from Norebo's lawyer, but has not managed to get an answer. However, their viewpoints were highlighted in an earlier interview about the lawsuit.