Fish as leverage

New sanctions against Russians “already in the drawer”

Will crispy breaded fish soon become scarce and expensive? The signs are certainly increasing.

(Bild: APA/dpa/Ingo Wagner)

Since "Captain Iglo", everyone has been talking about fish fingers, but a possible ban on imports of Russian fish could make them scarce ...

Generations of parents know the little breaded pieces because for many children they are the only fish they eat. The Iglo sticks of the white-bearded captain on the bow of a storm-tossed cutter (at least that's the advertising message) have been delighting fish lovers of all ages since 1959.

To this day, it is impossible to imagine the various menus of local inns and restaurants without them. And you can eat them with a clear conscience: After all, the legendary sticks that bring the vast sea and the depths of the oceans to our plates are considered healthy. After all, they contain valuable nutrients such as protein, iodine and omega-3 fatty acids.

Who doesn't like them?

(Bild: ©photocrew - stock.adobe.com)

But now a mighty storm is brewing over the crispy breaded fish. According to insiders, new sanctions against Russia are on the table at EU level in the fall, or rather in the drawers of Brussels bureaucrats.

As previous measures have not had the desired effect - as is well known due to the war in Ukraine - Alaska pollock, the meat from which the typical fish sticks are made, is now being targeted as a possible means of exerting pressure. However, 50 percent of this fish is caught in the waters of Tsar Putin's empire. Vladimir is therefore also expected to bleed economically from foodstuffs that were previously exempt from the punitive measures.

The fishing fleets are still (over)fishing what the northern seas have to offer. However, an import ban on Alaska pollock could lead to a shortage of sturgeon and thus to an increase in the price of the delicacy.

(Bild: thinkstockphotos.de)

"There are these considerations. However, any means of exerting pressure must be carefully considered in terms of its effect on domestic consumers. In principle, however, it needs the approval of all 27 member states," confirms EU mandatary Günther Sidl (SPÖ) from Ybbs an der Donau (Lower Austria), who is aware of the confidential consultations.

Germans are already trembling
For our neighbors, the trembling over the frozen product has already begun. Steffen Mayer, Managing Director of the Federal Association of the German Fish Industry and Fish Wholesalers, warns of shortages and price increases, also due to the interruption of supply chains imposed by Brussels.

There would then be a threat of empty (refrigerated) shelves, as the Central European market - and therefore also Austria - is dependent on pollack from the East. The crisis threatens to spill over into the Alpine republic.

The horror vision of the masters of the finely scaled fish: the current production would float away from the EU and the fish sticks would have to be imported from Asian sushi countries.