Why Russian Fish Still Lands on European Dinner Plates

Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland, and Portugal account for 90% of the EU’s imports of Russian seafood, which totaled €739.8 million last year. Germany is the primary hub, processing these imports into fish fingers and fillets that supply the wider European market. When the European Commission moved to add cod and other species to the sanctions list, Berlin pushed back, citing the risk of job losses and supply chain disruptions. Similar concerns were echoed by officials in Paris, Lisbon, and Warsaw.

The Pollock Bottleneck

Alaska pollock presents the greatest challenge to a potential ban. Unlike cod, which can be sourced from Iceland, pollock production is dominated by Russia and the U.S. With American catches largely absorbed by domestic demand, European processors argue that no viable, affordable alternative exists. Guus Pastoor, president of Seafood Europe, noted that maintaining these trade channels protects small-to-medium enterprises and keeps prices manageable for consumers. While the EU has previously ended duty-free access for Russian fish and blacklisted major suppliers like Norebo JSC for maritime sabotage, broader restrictions remain stalled. Analysts suggest that while a total ban would have limited impact on Russia’s war chest—given that China is a far larger customer—the current policy creates a glaring contradiction between the EU’s diplomatic stance on Ukraine and its continued reliance on Russian-harvested resources.