EU gives 'yellow card' to SL for illegal fishing

18 November 2012 12:29 pm - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The European Commission warned eight developing countries including Sri Lanka of sanctions if they did not do more to stop ‘criminal’ illegal fishing, saying it was taking the first step of its kind, the AFP reported.

The Commission said it did not plan to impose penalties as yet on Belize, Cambodia, Fiji, Guinea, Panama, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vanuatu, but stressed they could face a ban on the sale of fishing equipment, for example, failing action.

"This is not a black list but a yellow card," European maritime affairs commissioner Maria Damanaki said in a statement.

"We want these countries as partners ... but we also want to signal to the world that the EU will not tolerate (illegal) fishing -- a criminal activity which undermines the livelihood of fishing communities and depletes fish stocks.

"It must be eradicated by all means," Damanaki said.

The eight nations have been informed and given "a reasonable time" to respond and take action, the statement added.

Asked at a press conference what the next step might be, Damanaki said: "If they are cooperative, fine; if not, the European Commission will propose measures, trade measures.

"The next time it will not just be a yellow card ... it will be painful for everybody," she said, noting that Indonesia had been working with the EU for about a year and so was not included on the list issued Thursday.

The EU, the world's biggest importer of fish, adopted an 'Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated' directive in 2010, aiming to close the market to those who flout its rules.

Damanaki said illegally caught fish accounted for nearly 20 percent of the global total.

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Comments - 16

mamath Sunday, 18 November 2012 12:49 PM

I think this falls within the scope of Bodhu Bala Sena as EU claims that this kind of fishing impose pain on fish before caught

Kiwi Sunday, 18 November 2012 01:55 PM

Sri Lanka will do its fishing as it wants in its waters. My car my petrol, end of story!

Mr. Citizen Sunday, 18 November 2012 02:00 PM

I thought only thamilnadu fishermen do illegal fishing.

senavi Sunday, 18 November 2012 02:23 PM

we have unprecedented protein deficiency and we are exporting fish? Of course we need dollars to import luxuries for our politicians and officials

Gayan Sunday, 18 November 2012 02:55 PM

So its ok for them to travel 1000s of miles and catch fish in big ships in our waters but our simon aiya cant fish with a fishing net.

Hiru Sunday, 18 November 2012 03:25 PM

Wake up man, those days are gone...

KIrala Sunday, 18 November 2012 03:37 PM

And Chinese are very legal fisherman?

xlntgson Sunday, 18 November 2012 04:00 PM

How? We are supposed to be a fish importing nation!

kamal Sunday, 18 November 2012 04:40 PM

Mr EU, what are doing against Israel's assault on Palastenians??? Fish is more important than human being for you???

lk Monday, 19 November 2012 04:41 AM

these EU fellows seem to eat,drink & sleep football. Hence the 'Yellow card'.

buffaloa citizen Monday, 19 November 2012 05:04 AM

Sri Lanka is famous now in the world arena for doing other things to cover up their own crime.

Calistus Jayatilleke Monday, 19 November 2012 05:08 AM

Then it is high time for Sri Lanka to issue a "red notice" to the Tamil Nadu fishermen who fish illegally in our waters.

Nodrog Monday, 19 November 2012 07:47 AM

You talk of crimes of which nothing has been proven. Furthermore there are powerful countries guilty of much worse than SL but no one has the guts to accuse them.

Dilshan Monday, 19 November 2012 10:19 AM

Oh EU just wants to share profits on our fishing catch.. just an innocent 85%.. or a bit more.. tough times in Geneva.. in this non-colonial era.. Whites got to eat too!

Abdul Monday, 19 November 2012 12:09 PM

shut up eu! we can survive without you! now we got china

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EU gives 'yellow card' to SL for illegal fishing

Comments - 16

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