Extension of the Grey Zone agreement
The Barents Sea
Norway and Russia exchanged letters this week about the extension the interim agreement on joint measures of fisheries and fisheries regulations in the Barents Sea. The agreement, called the Grey Zone agreement, was concluded between Norway and the Soviet Union in 1978.
The prolongation of the agreement was approved by Norway in last Friday’s Council of State meeting and the official exchange of letters between the Russian Ambassador to Norway Sergey Andreyev and the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Helga Pedersen happened Wednesday this week.
Both Norway and Russia noted the significance of the Agreement for the development of effective and mutually advantageous cooperation between Russia and Norway in the management of joint fish resources in the Barents Sea.
Since the agreement was concluded in 1978 it has been extended for a year at a time 30 times. This time it is extended till 1 July 2010, writes the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.
The essence of this agreement is that in the area in question, both countries are to refrain from conducting inspections or from exercising any form of control over the other country’s fishing vessels. It also contains provisions relating to how the parties are to treat third-country vessels.
