FAO warns EU: Ban on Russian fish will cause shortage of fish fingers, which will have a serious impact on German processing industry!

The FAO's global fish market assessment report reveals the potential impact of the EU's proposed economic sanctions against Russia, particularly a ban on Russian pollock imports, on the European fish market. This ban, which would affect Germany, the EU's largest importer of Russian pollock, could lead to shortages of popular fish products and job losses in the food industry. With Russia being the main supplier of pollock to the EU, the potential ban is causing worry about the lack of alternative sources. The situation is further complicated by the rise in raw material prices due to previous sanctions and the cancellation of tariff quotas. In 2024, the EU experienced a decline in haddock fillet imports, with Germany heavily affected, and a shift in haddock fillet supply towards the United States. This shift has increased prices for European companies and consumers, prompting fast food companies to replace pollock with basa fish, despite its inferior taste and nutritional value.

According to the FAO's global fish market assessment report released in February 2025, the EU's discussion of new economic sanctions against Russia (including a possible ban on Russian pollock imports) poses a significant risk. As the EU's largest importer of Russian pollock and seafood, Germany will be disproportionately affected. FAO experts said: "The ban may lead to shortages of popular fish products such as pollock fingers and affect employment in the food industry." In August 2024, the EU discussed including restrictions on Russian pollock imports in the new sanctions plan. The Baltic countries (especially Lithuania) pushed for this ban. Although the EU's 2022 sanctions have already targeted seafood, caviar and crustaceans Animals, but pollock was not included in the 15th round of sanctions adopted at the end of 2024 and the 16th round of sanctions adopted in February 2025. Russia is the main supplier of pollock to the EU, and Germany, as a major producer of pollock ...