EU defeated- SL

22 March 2011 10:21 am

Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne says that the EU and other major fishing countries were recently dealt a blow as they attempted to increase fishing quota in the Indian ocean.

Minister Senarathne told BBC Sandeshaya that the EU, Japan, South Korea and other industrial fishing nations are responsible for destroying the tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean.

“Using helicopters and satellite technology and industrial purse nets not only they capture our fish but also destroy the fish stocks,” he said.

“That is very bad for our programme to preserve fishing stocks.”

Together with 17 other countries Sri Lanka managed to halt their attempts to increase their quota while reducing the quota for Indian Ocean countries, he said.

“Those who publicly campaign for preservation of fish stocks are the ones who destroy it,” the minister said.

The 15 sessions of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is currently underway in Colombo.
“It was the first time the EU was defeated at the IOTC,” Minister Senaratne added.

“We questioned whether it is our fault, the small countries, or big countries like EU and Japan that destroy the stocks.”

As a result of the protests by the regional countries, he said, the industrial fishing nations agreed not to bring in the quota system for the next few years.