Russia sanctions force British fish and chip shops to find alternatives to cod
British fish and chip shops are looking to Norway to help them survive the threats to their business caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
They have warned that a third of chippies may have to close if sanctions on fish from Russia add to the the pressure they are under from shortages of sunflower oil, flour and potato fertiliser.
About 40 per cent of the fish they use comes from Russian fleets but ministers are planning a 35 per cent tariff on white fish from Russia as part of the latest sanctions imposed on the Kremlin.
The National Federation of Fish Friers is hoping for help from fishing fleets in Norway. Andrew Crook will speak to the Norwegian Seafood Council on Wednesday at a conferenceat the port of Alesund, where he will be joined by Julie Waites, of the Frozen Sea Fillets Association.
Crook said most vessel owners in Norway “will know of fish and chips but may not have supplied the sector, so I’m giving them a bit of a history lesson.”
He added that the UK “has a long history of working with Norway, so hopefully they will be receptive.”
The federation said the cost of Icelandic cod had more than doubled since October — from £7.80 a kilo to about £16.
Crook said: “We cannot be so reliant on supplies from one specific region.”
