News
Lanka hopeful EU ban will be lifted
Ahead of a visit by a European Union delegation, the Government has got tough with local fishermen — enhancing penalties and imposing million-rupee fines for violating conditions set by the EU.
These measures have raised hopes that the crippling ban on Sri Lanka’s fish exports – imposed by the EU earlier in January this year – would be lifted soon. It has been alleged some fishermen had switched off the “Vessel Monitoring System” (VMS) while in international waters. EU Conditions stipulate that fishing vessels in international waters should be fitted with Vessel Monitoring Systems.
Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told the Sunday Times that the Government had taken action to ensure that the fishermen comply with all the conditions set by the EU so that the ban on Lankan fish exports could be lifted.“The two vessels which had been found violating the conditions should have been fined Rs. 2.5 million each, but the Government had fined them only Rs. 1 million each, because it was their first offence,” he said.
Minister Amaraweera said 57 conditions had been put forward by the EU, and the Fisheries Ministry had ensured that all of them were strictly observed. “I took up the issue with EU officials during a recent visit to Spain. I also briefed them on how Sri Lanka was fast tracking the implementation process. We are waiting for the inspection by an EU delegation due on November 13,” Minister Amarweera said.
Minister Amaraweera said the ministry had already installed Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) free of charge on 1,615 multiday fishing boats. Location of the boat could be monitored through the operation centre at the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
He said hundreds of fishermen who were doing their work in a legal manner were also suffering because of some who were indulging in illegal methods. That was why the Government took tough action. On Wednesday, the Cabinet approved a proposal to increase penalties for violations of international fisheries laws as underlined by the EU to establish a responsible fishing industry.
EU Ambassador David Daly said there had been progress by Sri Lanka, and a technical team from Brussels representing the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) would be here by the middle of next month to assess the progress in detail and hold discussions with the Sri Lanka Government.
“Both sides want this to be a successful process with a meaningful outcome. The EU had to take decisions negatively last year regarding Sri Lanka. But the boat is now in Sri Lanka’s port,” he said. Mr. Daly said the main focus of the technical team would be to study whether the progress made so far was enough to withdraw the ban or the red card imposed by the EU. If the EU team is satisfied it would recommend to the European Commisison that resolution be moved for the lifting of the ban.
The Cabinet also decided on Wednesday to increase penalties on Sri Lankan fishermen who intrude into international waters. This will come through amendments to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act. Meanwhile, an Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) team was here last week for preliminary evaluation of EU recommendations on Sri Lanka.