Include seafood in the sanctions to squeeze Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s brutal attack on Ukraine demands a comprehensive counterpunch from the West that will have an immediate and crippling effect on his country. In addition to a massive reinforcement of lethal arms for the Ukrainian military that destroy the waning morale of Russian forces, the sanctions recently announced by President Biden yesterday must be expanded exponentially. One action that can simultaneously advance the American Blue Economy and create difficulty for Putin is to ban Russian seafood imports.

Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced the U.S.-Russian Federation Seafood Reciprocity Act, which seeks to respond to Russia’s embargo of American fish and other seafood products with a reciprocal ban. Adding such a measure to our sanctions against Russia would accomplish three crucial objectives:

1) Impose measurable economic harm on Russia

The Russian seafood industry has seen a revitalization over the last few decades. Seafood sanctions stand to severely disrupt this. In 2019, Russia exported $698 million in seafood to the U.S., an incredible 19.7 percent increase from 2018. If combined with similar sanctions from allies such as South Korea, Japan and the Netherlands, the lion’s share of Russia’s $5.4 billion in seafood exports would be cut off.  Such a move could create huge opportunities for American seafood producers and processors.

2) Advance American Seafood competitiveness

Banning Russian seafood imports would also compliment extensive efforts initiated during the Trump administration to bolster the American seafood sector. Foremost of these was a historic executive order on seafood competitiveness. Citing our nearly 90 percent seafood trade deficit, the document directs actions to revitalize our seafood industry by reviewing and revising unnecessary regulations, growing domestic aquaculture, combatting illegal fishing and developing a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy. Few, if any, of these measures have been carried out by the Biden administration, including release of the U.S. Seafood Task Force’s trade strategy. Imposing Russian seafood sanctions should serve to accelerate their progress. 

3) Turn the sentiments of the Russian seafood sector against Putin

Russia has had high hopes for its seafood industry, estimating a potential $30 billion contribution to their GDP. This economic growth is fueled by a fishing fleet where illegal fishing is pervasive and reinforced by a predatory trade policy. Russian fisheries have been so profitable that big businesses are seeking control of the sector. Turning off their spigot will contribute to broader calls for Russian businesses and the public to demand the withdrawal of the Russian army from Ukraine. 

The United States is facing its ultimate test as the long-standing defender of democracy around the globe. Every element of our national power should be considered to defend Ukraine and defeat Russian aggression. Because offensive military options are complicated by the potential for nuclear escalation, we must look broadly at all possible means of influence. In the same way that American sea power helped to take down Soviet Russia in the Cold War, let’s follow through on promoting American seafood competitiveness to help turn the course of modern Russia in the unfolding disaster with Ukraine. 

Rear Admiral (ret.) Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., is the former deputy administrator of NOAA, assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, as well as an oceanographer of the Navy. He is the CEO of Ocean STL Consulting, LLC and host of the “American Blue Economy Podcast.”