The Allegations

Norebo, one of the world’s largest fishing companies, has been the victim of unsubstantiated, false allegations of wrongdoing. These have resulted in the company being sanctioned by the European Union in May 2025. The central claims against the company have all be reported in the public domain without a shred of evidence to back them up.

The leading claim is that one of Norebo’s vessels, the Kapitan Sokolov, was involved, alongside a Chinese vessel, the Newnew Polar Bear, in damaging the Balticconnector subsea cable in the Baltic Sea in October 2023. That claim is false. A joint investigation by Finish and Estonian authorities demonstrated that the pipeline was damaged by the Newnew Polar Bear dragging its anchor. The Chinese government has confirmed this and there are criminal proceedings ongoing in Hong Kong. There has been no action against Norebo.

“No public authority has ever found evidence of Norebo’s involvement in this incident in any way, shape or form.”

The publicly available satellite data shows the vessel in question was 50 miles away from the site at the time of the incident undergoing recorded sea trials. No public authority has ever found evidence of Norebo’s involvement in this incident in any way, shape or form.

The result is a material impact on the company’s ability to carry out our lawful commercial activity in the waters of Northern Europe. Norebo has been supplying fish and fish products to the nations of Europe for decades, building successful commercial partnerships across the continent. These relationships and supply networks are now under direct threat thanks to false, unjust and unfounded claims about the company’s activities.

“In the case of Norebo, there is no malicious behaviour to punish, yet the restrictions remain.”

Norebo is taking action to defend its position, presenting the facts of the matter and demonstrating that there is no justification for such regulatory designation. Sanctions are intended to punish entities for malicious, even illegal behaviour, restricting their ability to operate. In the case of Norebo, there is no malicious behaviour to punish, yet the restrictions remain.

The facts clearly demonstrate that Norebo does not have a case to answer. No public authority or news publication has yet presented any credible evidence to back up the false allegations of wrongdoing against the company.

Norebo

The facts

False Claim

The Kapitan Sokolov, a Norebo ship, assisted a Chinese ship, Newnew Polar Bear, in purposely damaging the Balitconnector undersea cables in the Baltic Sea

Fact

There is no evidence for this claim. Investigations carried out by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, the Finnish Navy, the Finnish Border Guard, the Estonian authorities, and the Chinese government concluded that the damage was caused solely by the Newnew Polar Bear. The captain of the Newnew Polar Bear is currently awaiting trial before the Eastern Magistrates Court. The report makes no mention of nor allegation against the Kapitan Sokolov. The ship’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) and satellite data shows the Kapitan Sokolov was over 50 nautical miles from the incident when it occurred.

False Claim

Suspicious movements of Norebo’s vessel Taurus between 2016 and 2022 suggest it was conducting espionage and spying on a US nuclear submarine

Fact

Norebo did not acquire this vessel until November 2021, meaning it could not possibly be responsible for any alleged suspicious activity prior to that point. In relation to the incident regarding a US submarine in 2022, the Taurus was departing Tromso as per the Norwegian port authority’s instructions, under the instructions of a Norwegian port pilot. The vessel was totally unaware of the presence of any US submarine and lacks the technological capability of detecting one.

False Claim

Norebo vessel Canopus was conducting espionage off the coast of Vlieland in the Netherlands around two undersea pipelines in 2024

Fact

False. The satellite data around the time of this alleged activity shows the Canopus docked in Velsen harbour, 20 nautical miles from the relevant site. The Dutch port authorities have also confirmed this in written docking and exit records.

False Claim

Norebo vessels The Lira and Ester have been equipped with ‘dual-use’ covert surveillance equipment to conduct state-sponsored espionage.

Fact

Norebo does not, and has never, owned these two vessels. They are owned by Atlantrybflot JSC and Sea Star Co Ltd. No Norebo vessels have any ‘covert surveillance equipment.’