Illegal Sri Lankan fishing boat (Photo: Paul Hilton/Greenpeace)
EUROPEAN UNIONFriday, November 16, 2012, 23:00 (GMT + 9)
The European Commission (EC) threatened to take action against eight countries and to include them in a blacklist for lack of cooperation in the fight against illegal unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). The warning is addressed to Panama, Belize, Cambodia, Fiji, Guinea, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vanuatu.
According to the Commissioner of Fisheries of the European Union (EU), Maria Damanaki, the efforts of these eight States to fight illegal fishing activities are "insufficient". In addition, there are "clear signs" that they are not fulfilling their obligations under international law.
However, Damanaki said the EC remains hopeful that the situation will be resolved through "dialogue and cooperation".
Thus, Brussels is planning to give these countries a "reasonable time" to take action and make improvements.
But European Commissioner warned that if there is no progress, the EU executive will not hesitate to propose actions, such as asking the Council to adopt "trade measures" against violators.
Specifically, the possibility of banning the marketing in the EU of fishery products coming from States that violate international fishing rules is under consideration.
It is the first time that the EC issued a threat of this kind.
To Damanaki, the warning is only a "yellow card" and for the moment it does not involve the incorporation of these states on a blacklist.
The Commissioner told that she will hold talks with each nation in order to implement a plan of action to correct the situation.
Within six months, the EC will present a first assessment of the progress made by each country.
Damanaki said that Brussels continues to work in parallel with third countries to combat IUU fishing, which represents about EUR 10 bllion a year, 19 per cent of the value of global fish catches.
It is estimated that 16 per cent of all sea-caught fish imported into the EU is caught illegally, according to the EC.