Source: European Parliament
In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has adopted an unprecedented set of sanctions. With these measures the EU, in close cooperation with its like-minded allies, aims to cripple Russia’s ability to finance its war effort.
Sanctions are carefully designed to maximise their impact on Russia and its economy, while limiting to the extent possible any negative consequences on EU businesses and citizens.
The Council adopted its 17th Russia sanctions package on 20 May 2025[1]. This package further restricts Russia’s access to battlefield technologies and cuts Russia’s energy revenues by targeting an unprecedented number of its shadow fleet vessels.
The package also expands the number of individuals and entities subject to sanctions. While this package did not include any further import restrictions on seafood products, it is important to recall that imports of crustaceans and caviar are subject to restrictive measures since April 2022.
The Commission is closely monitoring imports of seafood from Russia. Last year, the volume of EU imports decreased by 9% (down to 180 000 tonnes) and their value by 19% (down to around EUR 700 million).
It is important to note that certain existing dependencies on Russian fisheries products, such as Alaska pollock or cod, have not increased. In light of the stable import flows, the Commission is currently not considering additional tariffs on imports of Russian seafood products, but it continues to monitor the situation.
Moreover, as of 2024 Russia is excluded from the autonomous tariff quotas for fisheries products, meaning that such products cannot be subject to any tariff reductions when imported in the EU.
- [1] https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-adopts-17th-sanctions-package-against-russia-2025-05-20_en.