Norway and Russia hold seafood talks

The head of the Norwegian Seafood Export Council (NSEC), Terje E. Martinussen, hosted a meeting with Russia President Dmitrij Medvedev as part of a two-day state visit to Norway this week during which shared seafood resources were discussed.

Martinussen pointed out the importance of the Russian seafood market to Norway. Russia is currently the country's second largest seafood market and, he said, it might become the number one market very soon.

However, he said that for this to happen more salmon export licences would need to be granted to Norwegian companies. Today, only 25 Norwegian companies hold such export licences while 35-40 companies would like to enter the trade, he said.

Seafood accounts for 80% of the exports from Norway to Russia. In 2009, Russia was second only to France in Norwegian seafood exports and so far this year it is currently lying slightly ahead of France.

Norwegian herring and salmon represent the biggest exports to Russia.

Martinussen said that to establish an open trade between the two countries, the veterinary arrangements needed to be revised.