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Tough penalties for Lankan fishermen who violate EU rules
To conform to European Union regulations, tough penalties are to be imposed on Sri Lankan fishermen who stray into territorial waters of other countries and resort to illegal fishing methods, Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.
He said the penalties would include a Rs. 1.5 million fine, confiscation of the fishing trawler, a jail term of two and half years and the cancellation of the fishing permit. These penalties would be included in an amendment to the Fisheries Act to be introduced in Parliament next month.
“We have been compelled to introduce these penalties after the EU complained that Sri Lankan fishermen were straying into territorial waters of other countries and also resorting to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing,” the minister said.
The EU earlier issued a ‘yellow card’ warning to Sri Lanka and seven other countries over IUU fishing.
Dr. Senaratne said Sri Lanka had been given time till February next year to take action against those who violated the EU rules.
The EU is Sri Lanka’s dominant trade partner for fish and fisheries product exports, bringing in an income of about Rs. 22 billion annually.
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