Norway's ban on Russian fishing vessels calling at the majority of the country's ports will come into force on Friday, the government confirmed.
The restrictions announced on Oct. 6 blocking Russian fishing vessels over 500 gross tons from all but three of Norway's ports -- Tromso, Kirkenes and Batsfjord -- will come into force three days before Norway and Russia meet for fisheries negotiations.
"We do not want Norwegian ports and Norway to become a transit country for transporting goods illegally to Russia," said Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
"That is why we are tightening and increasing the control of Russian fishing vessels. If necessary, we will take even stricter measures."
The new rules also mean that all Russian fishing vessels over 500 gross tons must be checked and the police will have increased visibility and patrol the ports in question.
Russian fishing vessels that are in Norwegian shipyards when the change comes into force may be given the opportunity to complete the work.
"It is of great importance that the individual port and quay owner makes arrangements for the inspection authorities to carry out inspections in the most appropriate way possible," Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bjornar Skjaeran said.
Port owners must also direct vessels to identified terminals where control of the vessel is to be carried out and arrange for the vessel's layover time to be no longer than necessary.
The rules come into force three days before Norwegian and Russian fisheries authorities meet for fisheries negotiations and has already received criticism from, among others, the Russian embassy.
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